Sodium carbonate

Simon W · Post by **Simon W** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 5:37 am

Like a dark forest.

So Jan, is this the common Bicarbonate of Soda? How do you mix/ prepare for the slide, is it a strong concentration? With what liquid, just water?

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 7:53 am

It's normal fine kitchen soda. Half a teaspoon in a few CC normal hot tapwater. Bring it on a microscopeglass and let it rest for a couple of hours. Sometimes you get very nice white rozets of crystals. Gives not so much pola colors but very nice crystals.

bromodomain · Post by **bromodomain** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 9:38 am

That would be sodium hydrogen carbonate aka sodium bicarbonate but its not sodium carbonate. Sometimes I'd drink baking soda for heartburn and I often notice feather-like crystals on the glass. I didn't know its anisotropic.

Regards
Wes

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 11:22 am

This is NOT sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) but normal sodium carbonate (soda) for cleaning things. You can buy it in large crystals and as powder.

bromodomain · Post by **bromodomain** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 2:38 pm

Ah, I thought you confirmed Simon's response. Anyway, I wouldn't mind seeing more of your polarized photomicrographs of sodium carbonate

Simon W · Post by **Simon W** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 3:07 pm

Thanks Jan, bookmarked. Interesting, you could let any number of liquids dry and crystallize on the slide to see what patterns emerge. So much to try.