Is Sodium Carbonate safe in cosmetics?
Sodium Carbonate has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Sodium Carbonate
Also known as: Carbonic acid disodium salt, Bisodium carbonate, Disodium carbonate (Na2CO3), Soda, Soda ash (+14 more)
INCI: SODIUM CARBONATE
Sodium Carbonate (CAS 497-19-8) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as pH adjuster, buffering agent; washing soda/soda ash. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; GHS signal word WARNING. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 497-19-8 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
pH adjuster, buffering agent; washing soda/soda ash
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR (2016) safe. FDA GRAS (21 CFR 184.1742).
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Sodium Carbonate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
Excl markWarn
Hazard Statements
Causes serious eye irritation
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is severely irritating to the eyes. The substance is mildly irritating to the skin and respiratory tract.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance may have effects on the respiratory tract. This may result in perforation of the nasal septum. Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of dust.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
6 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LD50 | =2210 mg/kg | Mouse | dermal | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| LC50 | =0.4 mg/L | Guinea Pig | inhalation | - | ChemIDplus |
| LC50 | =0.6 mg/L | Mouse | inhalation | - | ChemIDplus |
| LC50 | =1.15 mg/L | Rat | inhalation | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =6600 mg/kg | Mouse | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =4090 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Eye Irrit. 2
Hazard Statements
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000,000 - 100,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE; GROUP
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
Additional Ingredient Properties
1 property record from structured ingredient metadata.
mineral_clay
{"cas_number": "497-19-8", "ingredient_class": "other", "chemical_formula": "Na2CO3", "mineral_origin": "synthetic", "particle_size_range_um": "10-500", "surface_area_m2_per_g": "0.5-5", "crystal_structure": "monoclinic", "color_appearance": "white", "opacity": "opaque", "refractive_index": "2.54", "oil_absorption_g_per_100g": "40-120", "water_absorption_capacity": "low", "surface_charge_at_pH_7":…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Antioxidant
Chelating agent
Chemical reaction regulator
Cleaning agent
Corrosion inhibitor
Filler
Flavouring and nutrient
Flow promoter
Foamant
Food preservative
Regulatory List Membership (3)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Sodium Carbonate.
Regulatory Flags
epa_safer_alternative
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
Known Synonyms
Carbonic acid disodium salt
Bisodium carbonate
Disodium carbonate (Na2CO3)
Soda
Soda ash
Sodium carbonate (Na2(CO3))
Sodium carbonate, anhydrous
Calcined soda
Dense Ash
Dynamar 5251Q
Light Ash
Lime ash
Soda Ash Dense
Na-X
Soda Ash Light
Snowlite 1
Soda Light
Soda, calcined
Caswell N0 752
Chemical Function
pH regulating agent
Chelating agent
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Europe; Specialty occupational products
Journal of Chemical Engineering & Process Technology
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
SODIUM CARBONATE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL186314
Max Phase
4
Adverse Event Associations
7
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sodium Carbonate allowed in the EU?
Sodium Carbonate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Sodium Carbonate do in cosmetics?
Sodium Carbonate functions as: pH adjuster, buffering agent; washing soda/soda ash. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 497-19-8.
Is Sodium Carbonate classified as hazardous under GHS?
Sodium Carbonate carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: Causes serious eye irritation. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.
Is Sodium Carbonate used outside cosmetics?
Sodium Carbonate also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Sodium Carbonate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Related Ingredients
Arginine
Excellent
Same category
Amino acid / pH Adjuster
D-Panthenol
Excellent
Same category
Hair and skin conditioning, humectant...
Dicaprylyl Ether
Excellent
Same category
Emollient
Emulsifying Wax
Excellent
Same category
O/W emulsifier; stabilizes oil-in-wat...
Ethyl Butyrate
Excellent
Same category
Perfuming, Masking
Fructose
Excellent
Same category
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Flavori...
(AGARICUS BLAZEI FERMENT + GANODERMA LUCIDUM FERMENT + GANODERMA MULTIPILEUM FERMENT) EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-sebum, Antioxidant, Skin Protecting
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
(ANGELICA GIGAS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT)/ANGELICA GIGAS STEM/CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/(CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS/PRUNUS PERSICA SEED)PORIA COCOS WATER
Good
Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Pr...
(ANGELICA KEISKEI/CHRYSANTHEMUM ZAWADSKII) LEAF/STEM/CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/TRICHOSANTES KIRILOWII FRUIT/ULMUS DAVIDIANA BARK/ROOT/(PAEONIA JAPONICA/BUPLEURUM FALCATUM/POLYGALA TENUIFOLIA ROOT)/VISCUS ALBUM STEM EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-seborrheic, Anti-sebum, Antioxid...
(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Antioxidant
(ARCTIUM LAPPA/CARROT/COLOCASIA ESCULENTA/DIOSCOREA BATATAS/GARLIC/GINGER/IPOMOEA BATATAS/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/ONION/POTATO BULBS)/(CHESTNUT/CITRUS UNSHIU/EGGPLANT/FIG/GRAPE/KIWI/LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM/MALUS PUMILA/MUME/PEACH/PLUM/PUMPKIN/PYRUS SEROTINA/RADISH/ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA FRUIT)/(ALLIUM TUBEROSUM/ALOE BARBADENSIS/ANGELICA UTILIS/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CELERY/SACCHARINA JAPONICA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA LEAF)/(ALLIUM FISTULOSUM/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/OENANTHE JAVANICA STALK)/LENTINULA EDODES/SUCROSE FERMENT FILTRATE
Good
Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning - Humect...
Arbutin
Good
Chemical family
Tyrosinase inhibitor; competitive inh...
Arbutin (Alpha-Arbutin and Beta-Arbutin)
Good
Chemical family
Skin Brightening
Beta-Arbutin
Good
Chemical family
Skin lightening agent; tyrosinase inh...
Is Sodium Carbonate in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Sodium Carbonate in your formulation.