Which of the following is commonly named as caustic soda? — s Block Elements Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

# Identifying Caustic Soda **Step 1: Recognize the common name** "Caustic soda" is a traditional industrial name for a strong base compound. **Step 2: Identify the chemical** Caustic soda refers to **sodium hydroxide**, chemically represented as $NaOH$. **Step 3: Understand why this name is used** - The term "caustic" indicates the compound's corrosive/burning nature - "Soda" is an older term for sodium compounds - $NaOH$ is highly alkaline and can cause chemical burns (caustic property) **Step 4: Confirm option D** Option D is **$NaOH$ (sodium hydroxide)**, which is the standard industrial chemical known as caustic soda. **Why other options are incorrect:** - If option A, B, or C represented $NaCl$ (salt), $Na_2CO_3$ (washing soda), or another sodium compound, they would not be caustic soda specifically - Caustic soda must be a strong base ($NaOH$) to warrant the "caustic" designation **Answer: D = $NaOH$ (Sodium Hydroxide)**