In some cultures, natron was thought to keep both the living and the dead spiritually safe. Also, when exposed to moisture the carbonate in natron increases pH, which makes a good environment for bacteria. The mineral was used in Egyptian mummification because it absorbs water and was a drying agent. It was also an ancient household insecticide, was used for making leather and as a bleach for clothing. Natron can be used to dry and preserve fish and meat. The mineral was mixed into early antiseptics for wounds and minor cuts. Natron was also a cleanser for the teeth and an early mouthwash. It softens water and removes oil and grease at the same time. Together with oil, it was an early form of soap. Historical natron was harvested as a salt mixture from dry lake beds in Ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as cleaning. The modern chemical symbol for sodium, Na, is an abbreviation of that element's New Latin name natrium, which came from natron. The English word natron is a French cognate that came from the Spanish natrón through Greek νιτρων nitron, which came from the Ancient Egyptian word netjeri, meaning natron. In modern mineralogy the word natron has come to mean only the sodium carbonate decahydrate (hydrated soda ash) which makes up most of the historical salt. Throughout history natron has had many practical uses which are still used in the wide range of modern uses of its constituent mineral components. Natron deposits are sometimes found in saline (salty) lake beds which arose in arid environments. It can be gray or yellow with impurities. Natron is white or without color when it is pure. Natron is a natural mixture of sodium carbonate decahydrate ( Na 2 C O 3 ♱0 H 2O, a kind of soda ash) and about 17% sodium bicarbonate (also called nahcolite or baking soda, Na HCO 3) along with small amounts of household salt ( halite, sodium chloride) and sodium sulfate.
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