Trona

Synonyms

Carbonic acid, sodium salt (2:3); Magadi Soda; Snowflake crystals; Sodium carbonate (3:2); Sodium sesquicarbonate; Urao; Trisodium hydrogendicarbonate; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Other Mineral Dusts

Description

Found in nature as dihydrates: monocyclic needles that are stable in air and soluble in water; [Merck Index #8674] A glass-like, noncombustible solid that is white, yellow or gray; [Hawley]

Sources/Uses

Used in bath salts, laundry detergents, water softeners, and buffers; Used to produce sodium carbonate and to tan leather; [HSDB]

Comments

Solutions are alkaline and mildly irritating to skin; [Merck Index #8674] 142 underground miners and 88 surface miners at a trona mine in Wyoming had no excess loss of lung function in a 5 year follow-up study. Chest x-rays showed no evidence of pneumoconiosis. [Rom, p. 538]

Biomedical References

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Leather Tanning and Processing