Product Overview
Sodium Hydroxide Flakes ACS Grade — commonly called caustic soda — is a strong inorganic base supplied as a dry, odorless solid with the formula NaOH (CAS 1310-73-2). It dissolves rapidly in water and delivers a concentrated alkaline solution on demand, which is why it remains a workhorse reagent across water treatment, chemical manufacturing, textile processing, and saponification operations.
This product is offered under the ACS Grade descriptor, a designation that analytical and QC-oriented buyers commonly specify when their process demands tighter lot-to-lot consistency than a standard industrial or technical grade can guarantee. Alliance Chemical carries it in sizes from 2 lb jars through 55 lb containers, covering everything from bench-scale formulation work to full production batches.
Why This Grade
ACS Grade is the designation buyers specify when their downstream process — titration, reagent preparation, or quality-control work — requires a known, consistent purity bracket rather than generic industrial caustic. If your operation runs gravimetric or volumetric analyses, ACS Grade narrows the uncertainty band on your hydroxide content compared to a technical or industrial flake.
For operations where that level of lot control is unnecessary — CIP circuits, general pH adjustment, or large-volume neutralization — a technical-grade caustic soda is typically more cost-effective. Choose ACS Grade when your SOP or customer spec calls for it; choose a standard industrial grade when throughput matters more than analytical traceability.
Chemical Profile
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH, molecular weight 39.997) is a solid at ambient conditions, odorless, and denser than water at approximately 1.5 g/cm³ at 68 °F. It is exceptionally soluble — roughly 111 g per 100 mL of water — which means flakes dissolve quickly with significant heat generation. Vapor pressure is effectively zero at room temperature, so there is no appreciable off-gassing from the dry solid. The compound is corrosive to metals and to biological tissue on contact (per the product's GHS classification), and operators should treat every handling step accordingly.
Industrial Applications
Caustic soda flakes serve a wide range of industrial processes. The applications below reflect well-established uses of sodium hydroxide in its solid form.
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pH Adjustment (Water Treatment) — Dissolved into process water or wastewater streams, sodium hydroxide raises pH rapidly and predictably. Municipal and industrial facilities use it to neutralize acidic effluent before discharge or to condition influent ahead of filtration and disinfection stages.
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Chemical Synthesis — NaOH acts as a strong base in saponification, esterification, and a range of organic and inorganic reactions. Its solid flake form lets operators meter exact masses into a reactor charge, which simplifies stoichiometric control compared to working from a pre-diluted solution.
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Soap and Detergent Production — Saponification — the reaction of a fat or oil with a strong alkali — is the foundational chemistry of bar and liquid soap manufacturing. Sodium hydroxide flakes dissolve into a lye solution at the concentration the formulator's recipe dictates.
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Textile Processing — In mercerization and scouring, sodium hydroxide swells cellulose fibers, improving dye uptake and fabric luster. Textile operations typically dissolve flakes to a target concentration in-house rather than purchasing pre-made solutions, giving them control over bath strength.
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Food-Industry Process Use — Sodium hydroxide is used in certain food-processing operations, such as peeling, washing, and pH control. Buyers in this space should verify independently that the grade and documentation meet their facility's regulatory and audit requirements.
Handling & Storage
Sodium hydroxide carries the GHS signal word Danger (per the product's GHS classification). The governing hazard statements are H290 — may be corrosive to metals — and H314 — causes severe skin burns and eye damage (per the product's GHS classification). Treat this material as aggressively corrosive at every step.
PPE: Chemical-splash goggles, face shield, neoprene or nitrile gloves rated for strong caustics, and a chemical-resistant apron at minimum. If dust is generated during transfer, use respiratory protection appropriate for alkaline particulate.
Storage: Keep containers tightly sealed in a cool, dry area. Sodium hydroxide is hygroscopic — it absorbs moisture from ambient air and will cake, deliquesce, or form a caustic film on exposed surfaces. Store away from acids, aluminum, zinc, tin, and other amphoteric metals, all of which react with NaOH and can generate hydrogen gas. HDPE and glass containers are compatible; avoid unlined metal drums.
Dissolution safety: Always add flakes to water, never the reverse. The dissolution of NaOH is strongly exothermic, and adding water to a mass of dry flakes can cause localized boiling and spattering.
Hazmat & Shipping
Sodium hydroxide flakes are regulated for transport as a Class 8 corrosive. The full DOT classification:
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UN Number: UN1823 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Sodium hydroxide, solid (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 8 — Corrosive (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: II (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Every outbound shipment from our Taylor, TX warehouse is classified, packaged, marked, and documented by staff operating under USDOT Registration #2188383. Shipping papers and hazmat placarding are prepared in accordance with 49 CFR Subchapter C.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet ships with every order and is available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A Technical Data Sheet is also on file for this product. Lot-specific Certificates of Analysis are available — request one at the time of order if your QC or incoming-inspection process requires it.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
This product ships as a fully regulated Class 8 corrosive under UN1823, Packing Group II — every package is classified, labeled, and documented by our hazmat-trained shipping team before it leaves our facility. Alliance Chemical has operated continuously since 1998 and has served over 50,000 customers across industrial, institutional, and analytical supply chains. All shipping and handling guidance on this page is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
