Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, also known as lye or caustic soda, is an extremely caustic (corrosive and damaging to human tissue) white solid that readily dissolves in water. read more
Sodium hydroxide (lye) can be obtained in nature from the burned ash remains of trees, typically using hardwoods. It is used in the manufacture of homemade soap using oil collected from heated and boiled animal fat. read more
Sodium Hydroxide is also extremely corrosive and can cause serious burns to the skin, eyes or other parts of the body. If it happens to be in the form of a vapor (which is extremely unlikely) it can also cause irritation to the respiratory tract. read more
Sodium hydroxide is utterly non-toxic in the small quantities used to adjust pH. In fact, all it does if form a salt with the more acidic compounds or foodstuffs that it is neutralizing, just like happens when the hydrochloric acid in your stomach is neutralized by the sodium bicarbonate in your intestines. read more