SODIUM SULPHATE ANHYDROUS
Technical grade
Sodium sulphate is the sodium salt of sulphuric acid. It is a white crystalline solid of formula Na2SO4 known as the mineral thenardite. Sodium sulphate is soluble in water with a melting point of 884C and density of 2.7 g/cm3. In water solutions it is fully dissociated to sodium and sulphate ions.
Sodium sulphate is soluble in water and glycerine but is insoluble in ethanol. It is chemically very stable, being unreactive to most oxidising or reducing agents at normal temperatures. When dissolved in water it produces a neutral pH solution.
In the laboratory, anhydrous sodium sulphate is widely used as an inert drying agent, for removing traces of water from organic solutions.
SODIUM SULPHATE PROPERTIES:
- Other Names: Disodium monosulphate; Sulphuric acid, Sodium salt; Natriumsulfat;
- Appearance: white crystalline solid
- Odour: Odourless
- Melting Point: 884 oC
- Boiling Point: 1429 oC
- Specific Gravity: 2.664 g/ cm3
- Solubility: 47.6 g/L in water @ 0C; 427 g/L @ 100C
- CAS NO: 7757-82-6
- EINECS NO: 231-820-9
- Molecular formula: Na2SO4
- Molecular weight: 142.04
- Degree of Whiteness: 80.0 % Min
- pH Value(1 % at 20): 7
- Mesh size: 0.037 - 0.5mm
Common Uses of Anhydrous Sodium Sulfate
1. Drying Agent (Desiccant)
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In laboratories, it's widely used to remove residual water from organic solvents during purification steps.
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It works by absorbing water and forming the hydrated form (Na₂SO₄·10H₂O, known as Glauber's salt).
2. Detergents & Cleaning Products
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Acts as a filler or bulking agent in powder laundry detergents.
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Helps control product viscosity and flow in both detergents and some cleaning pastes.
- Uses include de-frosting windows, in carpet fresheners and starch manufacture. It is also used in many powdered cleaners including laundry powders, destaining powders, carpet cleaners etc.
3. Industrial Manufacturing
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Glass industry: Removes air bubbles from molten glass (fining agent).
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Paper industry: Part of the Kraft process in pulping wood to make paper.
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Textiles: Used in dyeing processes to promote even dye absorption on fabrics.
- Lately, sodium sulfate has been found effective in dissolving very finely electroplated micrometre gold that is found in gold electroplated hardware on electronic products such as pins, and other connectors and switches. It is safer and cheaper than other reagents used for gold recovery.
5. Other Applications
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Thermal storage: Anhydrous sodium sulfate stores heat when it hydrates to its decahydrate form—useful in thermal batteries or phase change materials.
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Chemical synthesis: Used in producing other sodium salts and sulphates.
Health & Safety
This product is not classified according to the EU regulations.
PLEASE NOTE: This product is not for human or animal consumption.