[Jewelry making - Article 00109] - Re: [Orchid] [Source] Lye

[Al Balmer]

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>     I always believed that Lye was an archaic term for an alkali but
>     particularly POTASSIUM Hydroxide (Caustic Potash) - made from wood
>     ash, but a number of people here have been referring to Lye as
>     SODIUM Hydroxide or Caustic Soda - another chemical
>     entirely............Which is correct? 

    Well, both <g>. Both chemicals are called lye, but I believe you're
    correct that the one produced from wood ash is caustic potash (KOH)
    rather than caustic soda (NaOH). 

    For many purposes, such as saponification, they're equivalent. 

>     would be most useful if members would try to limit themselves to
>     using the standard international chemical name of substances they
>     are referring to.

    Agreed. 

Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ
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