Description of Sodium Sulfate:
Sodium sulfate is an important compound of sodium. When anhydrous, it is a white crystalline solid of formula Na2SO4.
It also known as sodium sulphate or sulfate of soda. All forms are white solids that are highly soluble in water.
The decahydrate, Na2SO4•10H2O, is known as Glauber’s salt.
About half of the world’s production is from the natural mineral form of the dehydrate (metabolite), and half from by-products of chemical processes.
Glauber’s salt, the decahydrate, was formerly used as a laxative.
It is obtained either from deposits of the sodium sulfate minerals metabolite and thenardite or synthetically by the treatment of sodium chloride with sulfuric acid. The crystallized product is a hydrate, Na2SO4·10H2O, commonly known as Glauber’s salt.
Application of Sodium sulfate:
It is used as a fining agent, to help remove small air bubbles from molten glass. It fluxes the glass, and prevents scum formation of the glass melt during refining.
The glass industry provides another significant application for sodium sulfate, as second largest application in Europe.
Sodium Sulphate is important in the manufacture of textiles. It is added to increase the ionic strength of the solution and so helps in “levelling”, reducing negative electrical charges on textile fibres so that dyes can penetrate evenly.
Another formerly major use for Sodium Sulphate is in the Kraft process for the manufacture of wood pulp. Organics present in the “black liquor” from this process are burnt to produce heat, needed to drive the reduction of sodium sulfate to sodium sulfide.
Sodium Sulphate is a very cheap material. The largest use is as filler in powdered home laundry detergents, consuming approx. 50% of world production.
This use is waning as domestic consumers are increasingly switching to compact or liquid detergents that do not include sodium sulfate.
It is used as a diluent for food colors. It is known as E number additive E514.
In the laboratory, anhydrous sodium sulfate is widely used as an inert drying agent, for removing traces of water from organic solutions.
It is more efficient, but slower-acting, than the similar agent magnesium sulfate.
It is only effective below about 30 °C, but it can be used with a variety of materials since it is chemically fairly inert. Sodium sulfate is added to the solution until the crystals no longer clump together.
Other uses
for sodium sulfate include frosting windows, in carpet fresheners, starch manufacture and as an additive to cattle feed.
In the laboratory, anhydrous sodium sulfate is widely used as an inert drying agent for organic solutions; Na2SO4 is added to the solution until the crystals no longer clump together.
Health Risks of Sulfate of Soda:
Sulfites are those compounds that contain sulfite ions which are usually composed of sodium (sodium sulfite) or even potassium (potassium sulfite). Sulfur releases an irritating gas sulfur dioxide, which acts as a protective and white agent.
Also occurring naturally in other foods and in the human body, sulfites were added to certain foods to act as a natural antiseptic as they inhibit bacterial growth, preserve food color and extend shelf life.
The uses and names of this chemical change with the water of crystallization. There are primarily 3 forms: Anhydrous – Na2SO4, this is also called thenardite which is a mineral rarely found in nature.
Heptahydrate – Na2SO4.7H2O, this is also a very rare form to occur naturally.
Decahydrate – Na2SO4.10H2O, this is commonly known as Glauber’s salt or mirabilis, but is called mirabilite when found in the mineral state in nature.
Safety:
Although sodium sulfate is generally regarded as non-toxic, it should be handled with care. The dust can cause temporary asthma or eye irritation; this risk can be prevented by using eye protection and a paper mask. Transport is not limited, and no Risk Phrase or Safety Phrase apply.
Sodium Sulphate Packing:
Our Sodium Sulfate, is offered in grain size by 20,40,100,200 Mesh, then packed in 50 KG PP bags. Palletizing and shrinking is possible. Also It will offer in Jumbo/Big bags.
Specification of Sodium Sulphate:
| Compound Formula | Na2O4S |
|---|---|
| Molecular Weight | 142.04 |
| Appearance | White |
| Melting Point | 884° C (1,623° F) |
| Boiling Point | 1,429° C (2,604° F) |
| Density | 2.68 g/cm3 |
| Solubility in H2O | N/A |
| Exact Mass | 141.931 g/mol |
| Monoisotopic Mass | 141.931274 Da |
