Alkalis – including chlorine, and caustic soda – have a wide-spreading diversity of uses in our everyday lives. They are used in the creation of glass and pottery glazes, in toothpaste and cures for indigestion, and in the production of paper and PVC. Their most prevalent uses, however, come from their inherent cleansing properties. Alkalis are especially good at dissolving oil and grease. Caustic soda is used in soaps and detergents, while chlorine is used to kill bacteria in our drinking water and swimming pools.

These properties also make alkalis a key component in protecting our environment. Alkalis are utilized in disastrous oil spills – dispersants break up the oil in the water, and detergents are used to wash oil from seabirds’ feathers. Alkalis can be introduced to lakes to counter the potentially devastating effects of acid rain, and to remove phosphors and nitrogen from industrial wastewaters.