Difference between revisions of "Sodium sulfate"

From Sciencemadness Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Preparation)
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Sodium sulfate''', also known as '''Glauber's salt''' or '''sal mirabilis''', is a chemical compound with the formula Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>, useful for drying.
+
{{Chembox
 +
| Name = Sodium sulfate
 +
| Reference =
 +
| IUPACName = Sodium sulfate
 +
| PIN =
 +
| SystematicName =
 +
| OtherNames = Disodium sulfate<br>Glauber's salt (decahydrate)<br>Mirabilite (decahydrate)<br>Sal mirabilis (decahydrate)<br>Thenardite (mineral)
 +
<!-- Images -->
 +
| ImageFile =
 +
| ImageSize =
 +
| ImageAlt =
 +
| ImageName =
 +
| ImageFile1 =
 +
| ImageSize1 =
 +
| ImageAlt1 =
 +
| ImageName1 =
 +
| ImageFile2 =
 +
| ImageSize2 =
 +
| ImageAlt2 =
 +
| ImageName2 =
 +
| ImageFile3 =
 +
| ImageSize3 =
 +
| ImageAlt3 =
 +
| ImageName3 =
 +
| ImageFileL1 =
 +
| ImageSizeL1 =
 +
| ImageAltL1 =
 +
| ImageNameL1 =
 +
| ImageFileR1 =
 +
| ImageSizeR1 =
 +
| ImageAltR1 =
 +
| ImageNameR1 =
 +
| ImageFileL2 =
 +
| ImageSizeL2 =
 +
| ImageAltL2 =
 +
| ImageNameL2 =
 +
| ImageFileR2 =
 +
| ImageSizeR2 =
 +
| ImageAltR2 =
 +
| ImageNameR2 =
 +
<!-- Sections -->
 +
| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
 +
| 3DMet =
 +
| Abbreviations =
 +
| SMILES =
 +
  }}
 +
| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
 +
| AtmosphericOHRateConstant =
 +
| Appearance = Colorless solid
 +
| BoilingPt =
 +
| BoilingPtC = 1429
 +
| BoilingPt_ref =
 +
| BoilingPt_notes = (anhydrous)
 +
| Density = 2.664 g/cm<sup>3</sup> (anhydrous)<br>1.464 g/cm<sup>3</sup> (decahydrate)
 +
| Formula = Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>
 +
| HenryConstant =
 +
| LogP =
 +
| MolarMass = 142.04 g/mol (anhydrous)<br>322.20 g/mol (decahydrate)
 +
| MeltingPt =
 +
| MeltingPtC =
 +
| MeltingPt_ref =
 +
| MeltingPt_notes = 884 °C (1,623 °F; 1,157 K) (anhydrous)<br>32.38 °C (90.28 °F; 305.53 K) (decahydrate) (decomposes)
 +
| Odor = Odorless
 +
| pKa =
 +
| pKb =
 +
| Solubility = ''Anhydrous:''<br>4.76 g/100 ml (0 °C)<br>13.9 g/100 ml (20 °C)<br>42.7 g/100 ml (100 °C)<hr>''Heptahydrate:''<br>19.5 g/100 ml (0 °C)<br>44 g/100 ml (20 °C)
 +
| SolubleOther = Soluble in [[glycerol]], [[hydrogen iodide]]<br>Insoluble in [[ethanol]], halocarbons, hydrocarbons 
 +
| Solvent =
 +
| VaporPressure = ~0 mmHg
 +
  }}
 +
| Section3 = {{Chembox Structure
 +
| Coordination =
 +
| CrystalStruct = Orthorhombic or Hexagonal (anhydrous)<br>Monoclinic (decahydrate)
 +
| MolShape =
 +
  }}
 +
| Section4 = {{Chembox Thermochemistry
 +
| DeltaGf =
 +
| DeltaHc =
 +
| DeltaHf =
 +
| Entropy =
 +
| HeatCapacity =
 +
  }}
 +
| Section5 = {{Chembox Explosive
 +
| ShockSens =
 +
| FrictionSens =
 +
| DetonationV =
 +
| REFactor =
 +
  }}
 +
| Section6 = {{Chembox Hazards
 +
| AutoignitionPt = Non-flammable
 +
| ExploLimits = Non-explosive
 +
| ExternalMSDS = [https://www.docdroid.net/sTLO5Xf/sodium-carbonate-anhydrous-sa.pdf.html Sigma-Aldrich] (anhydrous)<br>[https://www.docdroid.net/sf9TEbC/sodium-carbonate-decahydrate-sa.pdf.html Sigma-Aldrich] (decahydrate)
 +
| FlashPt = Non-flammable
 +
| LD50 =
 +
| LC50 =
 +
| MainHazards = Irritant
 +
| NFPA-F =
 +
| NFPA-H =
 +
| NFPA-R =
 +
| NFPA-S =
 +
  }}
 +
| Section7 = {{Chembox Related
 +
| OtherAnions =
 +
| OtherCations =
 +
| OtherFunction =
 +
| OtherFunction_label =
 +
| OtherCompounds = [[Lithium sulfate]]<br>[[Potassium sulfate]]<br>[[Rubidium sulfate]]<br>[[Caesium sulfate]]<br>[[Sodium bisulfate]]
 +
  }}
 +
}}
 +
'''Sodium sulfate''', also known as '''Glauber's salt''' or '''sal mirabilis''', is a chemical compound with the formula '''Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>''', useful for drying, more ofthen solvents and other liquids.
  
 
==Properties==
 
==Properties==
Line 5: Line 114:
 
Sodium sulfate will react with carbon at high temperatures, to yield [[sodium sulfide]]:
 
Sodium sulfate will react with carbon at high temperatures, to yield [[sodium sulfide]]:
  
:Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> + 2 C → Na<sub>2</sub>S + 2 CO<sub>2</sub>
+
: Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> + 2 C → Na<sub>2</sub>S + 2 CO<sub>2</sub>
  
 
Sodium sulfate is known to form double salts, such as alums, NaAl(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> (unstable above 39 °C) and NaCr(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> and even with other alkali metals, one example being Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>·3K<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>.
 
Sodium sulfate is known to form double salts, such as alums, NaAl(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> (unstable above 39 °C) and NaCr(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> and even with other alkali metals, one example being Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>·3K<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>.
 +
 +
Aqueous solutions of sodium sulfate are pH neutral.
  
 
===Physical===
 
===Physical===
Line 18: Line 129:
  
 
==Preparation==
 
==Preparation==
Sodium sulfate can be prepared by reacting a sodium salt or hydroxide with sulfuric acid or another soluble sulfate. It can also be prepared by reacting sodium bisulfite with another sodium compound, such as sodium chloride. Because of it's low solubility, sodium sulfate will precipitate. The resulting solid is filtered and dried to obtain the useful anhydrous form.
+
Sodium sulfate can be prepared by reacting a sodium salt or hydroxide with sulfuric acid or another soluble sulfate.
 +
 
 +
: Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> → Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>O + CO<sub>2</sub>
 +
 
 +
It can also be prepared by reacting sodium bisulfate with another sodium compound, such as [[sodium chloride]]. Because of its low solubility, sodium sulfate will precipitate. The resulting solid is filtered and dried to obtain the useful anhydrous form.
  
 
==Projects==
 
==Projects==
Line 45: Line 160:
 
*[http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=29820 Niche uses for Sodium Sulfate?]
 
*[http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=29820 Niche uses for Sodium Sulfate?]
 
*[http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=63460 Overrun with sal mirabilis!]
 
*[http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=63460 Overrun with sal mirabilis!]
 
 
  
 
[[Category:Chemical compounds]]
 
[[Category:Chemical compounds]]
Line 52: Line 165:
 
[[Category:Sodium compounds]]
 
[[Category:Sodium compounds]]
 
[[Category:Sulfates]]
 
[[Category:Sulfates]]
 +
[[Category:Readily available chemicals]]
 
[[Category:Easily prepared chemicals]]
 
[[Category:Easily prepared chemicals]]
 +
[[Category:Chemicals for crystal growing]]
 +
[[Category:Essential reagents]]
 +
[[Category:Neutral salts]]

Latest revision as of 18:54, 24 November 2021

Sodium sulfate
Names
IUPAC name
Sodium sulfate
Other names
Disodium sulfate
Glauber's salt (decahydrate)
Mirabilite (decahydrate)
Sal mirabilis (decahydrate)
Thenardite (mineral)
Properties
Na2SO4
Molar mass 142.04 g/mol (anhydrous)
322.20 g/mol (decahydrate)
Appearance Colorless solid
Odor Odorless
Density 2.664 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
1.464 g/cm3 (decahydrate)
Melting point 884 °C (1,623 °F; 1,157 K) (anhydrous)
32.38 °C (90.28 °F; 305.53 K) (decahydrate) (decomposes)
Boiling point 1,429 °C (2,604 °F; 1,702 K) (anhydrous)
Anhydrous:
4.76 g/100 ml (0 °C)
13.9 g/100 ml (20 °C)
42.7 g/100 ml (100 °C)
Heptahydrate:
19.5 g/100 ml (0 °C)
44 g/100 ml (20 °C)
Solubility Soluble in glycerol, hydrogen iodide
Insoluble in ethanol, halocarbons, hydrocarbons
Vapor pressure ~0 mmHg
Hazards
Safety data sheet Sigma-Aldrich (anhydrous)
Sigma-Aldrich (decahydrate)
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Related compounds
Lithium sulfate
Potassium sulfate
Rubidium sulfate
Caesium sulfate
Sodium bisulfate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Sodium sulfate, also known as Glauber's salt or sal mirabilis, is a chemical compound with the formula Na2SO4, useful for drying, more ofthen solvents and other liquids.

Properties

Chemical

Sodium sulfate will react with carbon at high temperatures, to yield sodium sulfide:

Na2SO4 + 2 C → Na2S + 2 CO2

Sodium sulfate is known to form double salts, such as alums, NaAl(SO4)2 (unstable above 39 °C) and NaCr(SO4)2 and even with other alkali metals, one example being Na2SO4·3K2SO4.

Aqueous solutions of sodium sulfate are pH neutral.

Physical

Sodium sulfate is a white deliquescent hygroscopic solid, poorly soluble in water (19.5 g/100 ml at 20 °C for anhydrous salt and 44 g/100 mL at 20 °C for decahydrate). It is insoluble in ethanol. Sodium sulfate has a density of 2.664 g/cm3 for the anhydrous form and 1.464 g/cm3 for the decahydrate. Its anhydrous form melts at 884 °C.

Availability

Sodium sulfate is available at pharmacies as Glauber's salt. Some products might also contain around 10% sodium bicarbonate. This can be removed by adding sulfuric acid or sodium bisulfite. In some countries, such as the Russian Federation, it is added into dry alkaline drain cleaners as a weak surfactant; it can be easily separated from the alkali, because the alkali in the drain cleaner is in form of large granules, and sal mirabilis a fine powder. Any household sieve or even dry gauze cloth will do the trick.

Sodium sulfate occurs naturally as the minerals thenardite (anhydrous Na2SO4) and mirabilite (Na2SO4·10H2O). Both forms appear depending on the weather conditions.

Preparation

Sodium sulfate can be prepared by reacting a sodium salt or hydroxide with sulfuric acid or another soluble sulfate.

Na2CO3 + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + H2O + CO2

It can also be prepared by reacting sodium bisulfate with another sodium compound, such as sodium chloride. Because of its low solubility, sodium sulfate will precipitate. The resulting solid is filtered and dried to obtain the useful anhydrous form.

Projects

  • Desiccator
  • Dry solvents
  • Make sodium aluminium sulfate
  • Electrolysis of water
  • Thermal energy storage
  • Sodium sulfide synthesis

Handling

Safety

Sodium sulfate is generally regarded as non-toxic, although its anhydrous form may cause irritations if touched or inhaled.

Storage

Anhydrous sodium sulfate should be stored in sealed bottles, in a dry place. The hydrated form doesn't require special storage.

Disposal

Sodium sulfate can be poured down the drain, as long as it doesn't contain other toxic products.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads