Caustic Soda shine alkali mai ƙarfi tare da lalata mai ƙarfi, gabaɗaya a cikin nau'in flakes ko tubalan, mai sauƙin narkewa a cikin ruwa (exothermic lokacin narkar da cikin ruwa) kuma yana samar da maganin alkaline, da lalatawar ruwa.
A jima'i, yana da sauƙi a sha ruwa tururi (deliquescent) da carbon dioxide (lalacewar) a cikin iska, kuma ana iya ƙara shi da hydrochloric acid don duba ko ya lalace.