Natron is a natural mixture of sodium carbonate decahydrate (NaCO·10HO, a kind of soda ash) and about 17% sodium bicarbonate (also called nahcolite or baking soda, NaHCO) along with small amounts of household salt (halite, sodium chloride) and sodium sulfate. Natron is white or without color when it is pure. It can be gray or yellow with impurities. Natron deposits are sometimes found in saline (salty) lake beds which arose in arid environments. Throughout history natron has had many practical uses which are still used in the wide range of modern uses of its constituent mineral components.