I looked for Sodium Carbonate everywhere around my town,but since I don't know the commercial name of the product I either ask for sodium carbonate or washing soda and end up getting a confused look by the store clerk...so I decided to make my own,by heating sodium bicarbonate.My question is though (since I haven't done this before) has anyone else ever done it here? If yes,I'd like specifics on the temperature,the time it must be heated,how to keep it from hydrating again etc etc etc...

Hello ! My name is Wiki and I know it all *evil laughter*

I find its alot quicker to just cover the bottom of a sauce pan with it and put it on the stove on high. When the "eruptions" settle down shake the pan a bit to move it around then let it cool.

When its "erupting" it almost looks like its boiling.
The sodium carbonate powder is not as fine of a powder as sodium bicarbonate, its a bit grainier. You can see the difference.

I have had it in a mason jar for probably a year or so and it hasn't re-hydrated, so I don't think its a big issue.

hmm..yes, yes.. we have a search function
*strokes chin*

I see what you did there... thnx