Soda ash is anhydrous sodium carbonate, Na2CO3 (CAS 497-19-8). This page is the commercial and RFQ hub for bulk light and dense soda ash. Sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3 and has a separate product page, specification and quotation.
Hailei supplies industrial buyers that need a written grade, recent lot COA, packing plan and export documents. We do not publish an invented spot price or universal specification: the quotation is based on the exact form, assay, critical impurities, quantity, port and Incoterm.
Light soda ash and dense soda ash are different buying forms
| Buying form | Typical procurement concern | What belongs on the PO |
|---|---|---|
| Light soda ash | Lower bulk density, dust, feeder behaviour and bag volume | Form, agreed bulk-density range and particle requirements |
| Dense soda ash | Glass-batch handling, storage flow and iron or insolubles where critical | Form, assay, iron/insolubles limits and test method |
Light and dense grades have the same chemical identity but different physical behaviour. A feeder, silo or glass-batch system qualified for one form should not be changed to the other merely because the assay looks similar.
Specification and COA fields to confirm
- Identity: sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, CAS 497-19-8.
- Grade and assay: light or dense, with the Na2CO3 reporting basis and agreed test method.
- Process-sensitive limits: iron, chloride, sulfate, insoluble matter and loss on ignition only where the application requires them.
- Physical properties: bulk density, particle distribution and caking or flow expectations.
- Documents: recent lot COA, SDS, packing list, origin and any destination-specific evidence agreed before shipment.
The specification should state acceptance limits, not just "industrial grade" or "glass grade." Confirm whether each value is a guaranteed contract limit, a typical value or a test result for one lot.
Applications and the correct cluster page
Application pages explain selection and purchasing boundaries. They do not replace plant trials, process design or site-specific dosing.
Packing, storage and shipment
State bag or jumbo-bag size, liner, pallet requirement, label language and container plan. Keep soda ash dry and protect it from humidity and contamination. Receiving inspection should compare bag condition, lot number, quantity and recent COA with the purchase order before the material enters production.
Freight and packing can materially change landed cost, especially when comparing light and dense grades. The soda ash price guide explains how to normalize the commercial basis without publishing a fictitious market price.
Do not confuse sodium carbonate with these products
- Sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3: a different chemical and separate RFQ.
- Caustic soda, NaOH: a different alkali with different concentration and handling requirements.
- Washing soda: commonly sodium carbonate decahydrate; confirm water of crystallization before comparing tonnes.
Use the single soda ash vs sodium bicarbonate comparison when the purchasing team needs to prevent an identity error.
RFQ checklist
- Light or dense form and intended industrial use
- Assay, critical impurity limits, bulk density or PSD where needed
- Quantity, packing, pallet and label language
- Destination port, Incoterm and requested shipping window
- Recent lot COA, SDS, sample and change-notification expectations
Soda ash technical and buyer resources
FAQ
Is soda ash the same as baking soda? No. Soda ash is Na2CO3; sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3.
Can light soda ash replace dense soda ash? Only after the written specification and process trial accept the change in bulk density and handling.
What is needed for a quotation? Grade, specification, quantity, packing, destination, Incoterm and document requirements.
Technical identity reference
The chemical identity and CAS number can be independently checked in the PubChem sodium carbonate record.
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