It is a white solid and highly caustic metallic base and alkali salt. Sodium hydroxide is soluble in water, ethanol and methanol. This alkali is deliquescent and readily absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide in the air. Lye is mixed with water to create a lye solution. Lye solution, when mixed with fats and oils, will cause a chemical reaction called saponification (fancy for soap). The result of saponification is beautiful handmade soap. Food uses of sodium hydroxide include washing or chemical peeling of fruits and vegetables, chocolate and cocoa processing, caramel coloring production, poultry scalding, soft drink processing and thickening ice cream. Olives are often soaked in sodium hydroxide for softening; Pretzels and German lye rolls are glazed with a sodium hydroxide solution before baking to make them crisp. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining food-grade sodium hydroxide in small quantities for home use, sodium carbonate is often used in place of sodium hydroxide. Industrial or technical, grade lye is often used as a cleaner and is the active ingredient in common drain cleaners. Sodium silicate is often used as a corrosion inhibitor to prevent lye from corroding pipes while it removes the blockage. Citric acid or other acids, are often used in coordination with lye as it creates an exothermic reaction (heat) to leave sodium acetate (a salt) and water. An alternative, but less effective alternative is sodium bicarbonate.