When it gets to the desired pH...Pull and rinse..When you put sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate in solution, the carbonate or bicarbonate ion have the ability to pull a proton (H+), hydrogen ion or the ion that causes acidity off of a water molecule.H-O-H(water) ------> OH-(hydroxide)...The hydroxide is formed.. (no the equation is not balanced)Soda ash, sodium carbonate is a salt.