Why can the ash water from plant ashes be used for cleaning?
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I heard that during that period, since the Chinese couldn’t get gleditsia seeds, they invented using ash water from plant ashes to wash clothes; therefore, I would like to ask why ash water can remove stains. I hope my friends can answer this question. Thank you! !
The ash solution is weakly alkaline; it can react with the oil molecules on clothes to form substances that are soluble in water, thereby removing the stains.
Because the main component in plant ash is potassium carbonate
Plant ash contains potassium carbonate, which becomes alkaline when dissolved in water; therefore, it can be used for cleaning