In the laboratory, anhydrous sodium sulfate is widely used as an inertdrying agent, for removing traces of water from organic solutions.[25]It is more efficient, but slower-acting, than the similar agentmagnesium sulfate. It is only effective below about 30C, 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; demonstrate how the crystals clump when still wet, but some crystals flow freely once a sample is dry.
Properties | |
---|---|
Na2SO4 | |
Molar mass | 142.04 g/mol (anhydrous) 322.20 g/mol (decahydrate) |
Appearance | white crystalline solid hygroscopic |
Odor | odorless |
Density | 2.664 g/cm3(anhydrous) 1.464g/cm3(decahydrate) |
Melting point | 884C (1,623F; 1,157K) (anhydrous) 32.38 C (decahydrate) |
Boiling point | 1,429C (2,604F; 1,702K) (anhydrous) |
anhydrous: 4.76 g/100 mL (0 C) 28.1 g/100 mL (25 C)[1] 42.7 g/100 mL (100C) heptahydrate: 19.5 g/100 mL (0 C) 44 g/100 mL (20 C) | |
Solubility | insoluble inethanol soluble inglycerol,water, andhydrogen iodide |
i52.0i10i6cm3/mol | |
Refractive index(nD) | 1.468 (anhydrous) 1.394 (decahydrate) |
Structure | |
orthorhombic(anhydrous)[2] monoclinic(decahydrate) | |
Pharmacology | |
A06AD13(WHO)A12CA02(WHO) | |
Hazards | |
Occupational safety and health(OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards | Irritant |
NFPA 704(firediamond) | |
Flash point | Non-flammable |
Safety data sheet(SDS) | ICSC 0952 |
Related compounds | |
Otheranions | Sodium selenate Sodium tellurate |
Othercations | Lithium sulfate Potassium sulfate Rubidium sulfate Caesium sulfate |
Related compounds | Sodium bisulfate Sodium sulfite Sodium persulfate Sodium pyrosulfate |