Soda ash is most commonly used in:
^ Manufacture of glass, where it reduces the melting temperature of the sand used in glass formation and helps in the 'workability' or ^ ^ ^shaping of glass articles such as tableware and float glass,
^ Making soaps and detergents, where it is employed as a builder, or filler, to give a smoother surface,
^ Production of chemicals such as sodium silicate, sodium bicarbonate and percarbonate, and sodium chromate and dichromate,
^ Pulp and paper manufacture, water treatment, effluent treatment, metallurgy and drugs
