Sodium acetate, CH3COONa, also abbreviated NaOAc,[8] is the sodium salt of acetic acid. This colorless deliquescent salt has a wide range of uses.

Sodium acetate
Skeletal formula of sodium acetate
Sodium acetate
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Sodium acetate
Other names
Hot ice (sodium acetate trihydrate)
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
3595639
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.386 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • anhydrous: 204-823-8
E number E262 (preservatives)
20502
KEGG
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • anhydrous: AJ4300010 (anhydrous)
    AJ4580000
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C2H4O2.Na/c1-2(3)4;/h1H3,(H,3,4);/q;+1/p-1 checkY
    Key: VMHLLURERBWHNL-UHFFFAOYSA-M checkY
  • anhydrous: InChI=1/C2H4O2.Na/c1-2(3)4;/h1H3,(H,3,4);/q;+1/p-1
    Key: VMHLLURERBWHNL-REWHXWOFAT
  • anhydrous: [Na+].[O-]C(=O)C
Properties
C2H3NaO2
Molar mass 82.034 g·mol−1
Appearance White deliquescent powder
Odor Vinegar (acetic acid) odor when heated to decomposition[1]
Density 1.528 g/cm3 (20 °C, anhydrous)
1.45 g/cm3 (20 °C, trihydrate)[2]
Melting point 324 °C (615 °F; 597 K)
(anhydrous)
58 °C (136 °F; 331 K)
(trihydrate)
Boiling point 881.4 °C (1,618.5 °F; 1,154.5 K)
(anhydrous)
122 °C (252 °F; 395 K)
(trihydrate) decomposes
Anhydrous:
119 g/100 mL (0 °C)
123.3 g/100 mL (20 °C)
125.5 g/100 mL (30 °C)
137.2 g/100 mL (60 °C)
162.9 g/100 mL (100 °C)
Trihydrate:
32.9 g/100 mL (-10 °C)
36.2 g/100 mL (0 °C)
46.4 g/100 mL (20 °C)
82 g/100 mL (50 °C)[3]
Solubility Soluble in alcohol, hydrazine, SO2[4]
Solubility in methanol 16 g/100 g (15 °C)
16.55 g/100 g (67.7 °C)[4]
Solubility in ethanol Trihydrate:
5.3 g/100 mL
Solubility in acetone 0.5 g/kg (15 °C)[4]
Acidity (pKa) 24 (20 °C)[4]
4.75 (when mixed with CH3COOH as a buffer)[5]
Basicity (pKb) 9.25
−37.6·10−6 cm3/mol
1.464
Structure
Monoclinic
Thermochemistry
100.83 J/mol·K (anhydrous)[6]
229 J/mol·K (trihydrate)[7]
Std molar
entropy
(S298)
138.1 J/mol·K (anhydrous)[6]
262 J/mol·K (trihydrate)[2]
−709.32 kJ/mol (anhydrous)[4]
−1604 kJ/mol (trihydrate)[2]
Gibbs free energy fG)
−607.7 kJ/mol (anhydrous)[4]
Pharmacology
B05XA08 (WHO)
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
Irritant
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
1
1
0
Flash point >250 °C (482 °F; 523 K)[5]
600 °C (1,112 °F; 873 K)[5]
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)
3530 mg/kg (oral, rat)
Safety data sheet (SDS) External MSDS
Related compounds
Other anions
Sodium formate
Sodium propionate
Other cations
Potassium acetate
Calcium acetate
Related compounds
Sodium diacetate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Applications edit

Biotechnological edit

Sodium acetate is used as the carbon source for culturing bacteria. Sodium acetate is also useful for increasing yields of DNA isolation by ethanol precipitation.

Industrial edit

Sodium acetate is used in the textile industry to neutralize sulfuric acid waste streams and also as a photoresist while using aniline dyes. It is also a pickling agent in chrome tanning and helps to impede vulcanization of chloroprene in synthetic rubber production. In processing cotton for disposable cotton pads, sodium acetate is used to eliminate the buildup of static electricity.

Concrete longevity edit

Sodium acetate is used to mitigate water damage to concrete by acting as a concrete sealant, while also being environmentally benign and cheaper than the commonly used epoxy alternative for sealing concrete against water permeation.[9]

Food edit

Sodium acetate may be added to food as a seasoning, sometimes in the form of sodium diacetate, a one-to-one complex of sodium acetate and acetic acid,[10] given the E-number E262. It is often used to give potato chips a salt and vinegar flavour, and may be used as a substitute for vinegar itself on potato chips as it does not add moisture to the final product.[11] Sodium acetate (anhydrous) is widely used as a shelf-life extending agent and pH control agent.[12] It is safe to eat at low concentration.[13]

Buffer solution edit

A solution of sodium acetate (a basic salt of acetic acid) and acetic acid can act as a buffer to keep a relatively constant pH level. This is useful especially in biochemical applications where reactions are pH-dependent in a mildly acidic range (pH 4–6).

Heating pad edit

 
A hand warmer containing a supersaturated solution of sodium acetate which releases heat upon crystallization

Sodium acetate is also used in heating pads, hand warmers, and hot ice. A supersaturated solution of sodium acetate in water is supplied with a device to initiate crystallization, a process that releases substantial heat.

 
Solubility from CRC Handbook

Sodium acetate trihydrate crystals melt at 58–58.4 °C (136.4–137.1 °F),[14][15] dissolving in their water of crystallization[citation needed]. When they are heated past the melting point and subsequently allowed to cool, the aqueous solution becomes supersaturated. This solution is capable of cooling to room temperature without forming crystals. By pressing on a metal disc within the heating pad, a nucleation center is formed, causing the solution to crystallize back into solid sodium acetate trihydrate. The process of crystallization is exothermic.[16] The latent heat of fusion is about 264–289 kJ/kg.[14] Unlike some types of heat packs, such as those dependent upon irreversible chemical reactions, a sodium acetate heat pack can be easily reused by immersing the pack in boiling water for a few minutes, until the crystals are completely dissolved, and allowing the pack to slowly cool to room temperature.[17]

Preparation edit

 
A crystal of sodium acetate trihydrate (length 1.7 centimetres)

For laboratory use, sodium acetate is inexpensive and usually purchased instead of being synthesized. It is sometimes produced in a laboratory experiment by the reaction of acetic acid, commonly in the 5–8% solution known as vinegar, with sodium carbonate ("washing soda"), sodium bicarbonate ("baking soda"), or sodium hydroxide ("lye", or "caustic soda"). Any of these reactions produce sodium acetate and water. When a sodium and carbonate ion-containing compound is used as the reactant, the carbonate anion from sodium bicarbonate or carbonate, reacts with the hydrogen from the carboxyl group (-COOH) in acetic acid, forming carbonic acid. Carbonic acid readily decomposes under normal conditions into gaseous carbon dioxide and water. This is the reaction taking place in the well-known "volcano" that occurs when the household products, baking soda and vinegar, are combined.

CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COONa + H2CO
3
H2CO
3
CO
2
+ H
2
O

Industrially, sodium acetate trihydrate is prepared by reacting acetic acid with sodium hydroxide using water as the solvent.

CH3COOH + NaOH → CH3COONa + H2O.

To manufacture anhydrous sodium acetate industrially, the Niacet Process is used. Sodium metal ingots are extruded through a die to form a ribbon of sodium metal, usually under an inert gas atmosphere such as N2 then immersed in anhydrous acetic acid.

2 CH3COOH + 2 Na →2 CH3COONa + H2.

The hydrogen gas is normally a valuable byproduct.

Structure edit

The crystal structure of anhydrous sodium acetate has been described as alternating sodium-carboxylate and methyl group layers.[18] Sodium acetate trihydrate's structure consists of distorted octahedral coordination at sodium. Adjacent octahedra share edges to form one-dimensional chains. Hydrogen bonding in two dimensions between acetate ions and water of hydration links the chains into a three-dimensional network.[19][20]

Comparison of anhydrous and trihydrate crystal structures
Degree of hydration Anhydrous[18] Trihydrate[19][20]
Na coordination    
Strongly bonded aggregation  
2D sheet
 
1D chain
Weakly bonded aggregation  
sheets stacked with
hydrophobic surfaces in contact
 
chains linked by hydrogen bonds
(one chain highlighted in light blue)

Reactions edit

Sodium acetate can be used to form an ester with an alkyl halide such as bromoethane:

CH3COONa + BrCH2CH3CH3COOCH2CH3 + NaBr

Sodium acetate undergoes decarboxylation to form methane (CH4) under forcing conditions (pyrolysis in the presence of sodium hydroxide):

CH3COONa + NaOH → CH4 + Na2CO3

Calcium oxide is the typical catalyst used for this reaction. Cesium salts also catalyze this reaction.[citation needed]

References edit

  1. ^ "Sodium Acetate". International Chemical Safety Cards. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. 2018-09-18.
  2. ^ a b c "sodium acetate trihydrate". chemister.ru.
  3. ^ Seidell, Atherton; Linke, William F. (1952). Solubilities of Inorganic and Organic Compounds. Van Nostrand.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "sodium acetate". chemister.ru.
  5. ^ a b c Sigma-Aldrich Co., Sodium acetate. Retrieved on 2014-06-07.
  6. ^ a b Acetic acid, sodium salt in Linstrom, Peter J.; Mallard, William G. (eds.); NIST Chemistry WebBook, NIST Standard Reference Database Number 69, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg (MD) (retrieved 2014-05-25)
  7. ^ Acetic acid, sodium salt, hydrate (1:1:3) in Linstrom, Peter J.; Mallard, William G. (eds.); NIST Chemistry WebBook, NIST Standard Reference Database Number 69, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg (MD) (retrieved 2014-05-25)
  8. ^ Clayden, Jonathan; Greeves, Nick; Warren, Stuart; Wothers, Peter (2001). Organic Chemistry (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-850346-0.
  9. ^ "Potato Chip Flavoring Boosts Longevity Of Concrete". Science Daily. 8 August 2007.
  10. ^ AG, Jungbunzlauer Suisse. "Sodium Diacetate – Jungbunzlauer". www.jungbunzlauer.com. Archived from the original on 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  11. ^ Austen, Ian (2018-06-09). "The Secret Story of Salt and Vinegar Chips: the Canada Letter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  12. ^ "Food Additive "Sodium Acetate (Anhydrous)" | Products". Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  13. ^ Mohammadzadeh-Aghdash, Hossein; Sohrabi, Yousef; Mohammadi, Ali; Shanehbandi, Dariush; Dehghan, Parvin; Ezzati Nazhad Dolatabadi, Jafar (15 August 2018). "Safety assessment of sodium acetate, sodium diacetate and potassium sorbate food additives". Food Chemistry. 257: 211–215. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.03.020. ISSN 0308-8146. PMID 29622200. S2CID 4596295. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  14. ^ a b Ibrahim Dincer and Marc A. Rosen. Thermal Energy Storage: Systems and Applications, page 155
  15. ^ Courty JM, Kierlik E, Les chaufferettes chimiques, Pour la Science, décembre 2008, pp. 108–110
  16. ^ "Crystallization of Supersaturated Sodium Acetate". Journal of Chemical Education. 2015-07-19.
  17. ^ "How do sodium acetate heat pads work?". HowStuffWorks. April 2000. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  18. ^ a b Hsu, Leh-Yeh; Nordman, C. E. (1983). "Structures of two forms of sodium acetate, Na+.C2H3O2". Acta Crystallogr. C. 39 (6): 690–694. doi:10.1107/S0108270183005946.
  19. ^ a b Cameron, T. S.; Mannan, K. M.; Rahman, M. O. (1976). "The crystal structure of sodium acetate trihydrate". Acta Crystallogr. B. 32: 87–90. doi:10.1107/S0567740876002367.
  20. ^ a b Wei, K.-T.; Ward, D. L. (1977). "Sodium acetate trihydrate: a redetermination". Acta Crystallogr. B. 33 (2): 522–526. doi:10.1107/S0567740877003975.

External links edit