A chemical property of soda ash is that it is an alkaline compound , of pH 11.6 in aqueous solution. The chemical name of soda ash is sodium carbonate. It is a sodium salt of carbonic acid and occurs as a white crystalline compound. It has a cooling alkaline taste. It can be found in the ashes of many plants. It is produced in large quantities from sodium chloride (common salt). It can be found as a mineral in mineral deposits of natron usually in seasonal lakes when the lakes dry up.