Alum. A colorless to white crystalline substance of the composition KA1(SO4)2.12H2O, or {KA1(H2O)6}SO4.6H2O occurring naturally as the mineral Kalunite, and also in combination as the mineral Alunite. It is also called Potash alum to distinguish it from other forms. It has a sweetish taste and is very astringent. It is used an astringent in the leather and textile industries, in sizing paper, as a mordant in dyeing, in medicines as an astringent and styptic, and in baking powder. It is an important water-purifying agent.
Baking soda. Sodium hydrogen carbonate, or Sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3. They are used in both industrial and household cleaners. Tanners’ alkali, used in processing fine leathers, and Textile soda, used in fine wool and cotton textiles, are modified sodas. Flour bland, used by the milling industry in making free-flowing, self-raising food flours, is a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and tricalcium phosphate.
Borax (In Article, Borate Minerals). The most common borate mineral, borax, was mined in ancient times from salt lakes in Tibet and Kashmir, where it was called tincal. Borax from the historic deposits in DEATH VALLEY was transported by the famous 20-mule teams. At present, most of the world's supply of boron is extracted from large quantities of borax, kernite, and colemanite mined at Borax, Searles, and Kramer lakes in California. Borax has long been used as a cleanser, as a flux in the manufacture of glass and ceramic glazes, and as a soldering flux.
Citric Acid (In article, Lime oil). The Citric acid produced from lemons, limes, and pineapples is a colorless, odorless crystalline powder of the composition (CO2HCH2)2C(OH)COOH, specific gravity 1.542, and melting point 153oC. It is used in medicine, flavoring extracts, and in soft drinks, but is toxic in excess. It is also used in inks, etching, and as a “resist” in textile dyeing and printing.
Cream of Tartar (In Article, Argols). Also called Wine lees. A reddish crust or sediment deposited from wine, employed for the production of tartaric acid, cream of tartar, and rochelle salts. It is crude Potassium acid tartrate, or Cream of tartar, KH (C4H4O6). When grape fermentation is complete, the wine is drawn off and placed in storage tanks where the Lees settles out. Purified cream of tartar is colorless to white crystalline powder of specific gravity 1.956, soluble in water, used in baking powders.
Salt. (sodium chloride) Common salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), occurs naturally in pure, solid form as the mineral HALITE and in widely distributed deposits of rock, or mineral, salts. It makes up almost 80 percent of the total dissolved solids in ocean water and even greater amounts in inland saltwater lakes and seas. Salt is used in greater quantities and for more applications than any other mineral. When mixed with crushed ice it acts as a refrigerant, and, spread on icy streets, it melts the ice. Table salt has been valuable for centuries in seasoning food and preserving it either by pickling or by salting down meats.
Sugar. Sugars, a diverse and important subdivision of naturally occurring organic compounds called CARBOHYDRATES, are generally sweet tasting, dissolve easily in water, and form white or clear crystals when purified. Common table sugar, or sucrose, is but one of many kinds of sugars. Maple sap, sorghum, and some palm or date trees also yield limited quantities of sucrose. The In addition to its use as a food, sucrose is used to manu- facture certain detergents, plastics, and related compounds. Efforts are also being made to synthesize other organic chemicals from sucrose to conserve dwindling supplies of petroleum.