Sodium hydroxide is a strong alkali. Its reaction with acid yields salt and water. Sodium hydroxide solution has many industrial applications including dyes and drugs. It has the ability to disintegrate lignin and hence is used in paper manufacturing. Sodium hydroxide has high melting of about 318°C.

Sodium hydroxide solution has been used:

• to neutralize collagen type I solution phosphate-buffered saline for its use in 3D cell culture technique
• to dissolve phosphate chains in phosphate glass for optical characterisation
• as a component of transfer medium used for cell culture
• as a general titration base for cell culture applications.