Sodium sulfate
Other names	Sodium sulphate Salt cake Thenardite (mineral) Glauber's salt (decahydrate) Sal mirabilis (decahydrate) Mirabilite (decahydrate)
Identifiers
CAS number	[7757-82-6]
RTECS number	WE1650000 (anhydrous)
Properties
Molar mass	142. Thenardite is an anhydrous Sodium sulfate mineral Na2SO4 which occurs in arid Evaporite environments Mirabilite, also known as "Glauber's salt" is a hydrous Sodium sulfate mineral Na2SO4 · 10H2O CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for Chemical compounds Polymers biological sequences mixtures and Alloys They are also referred to Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances ( RTECS) is a Database of Toxicity information compiled from the open scientific literature without reference Molar mass, symbol M, is the Mass of one mole of a substance ( Chemical element or Chemical compound) 04 g/mol (anhydrous) 268. As a general term a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no Water. 15 g/mol (heptahydrate) 322. 20 g/mol (decahydrate)
Appearance	White crystalline solid, hygroscopic
Density	2. Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract Water Molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or Adsorption The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different 68 g/cm³, anhydrous (orthorhombic form) 1. 464 g/cm³, decahydrate
Melting point	884 °C (1157 K) anhydrous 32. The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. 4 °C decahydrate
Solubility in water	4. Solubility is the characteristic Physical property referring to the ability of a given substance the Solute, to dissolve in a Solvent. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. 76 g/100 ml (0 °C) 42. 7 g/100 ml (100 °C)
Structure
Crystal structure	monoclinic, orthorhombic or hexagonal
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
MSDS	External MSDS
Main hazards	Irritant
NFPA 704	0 1 0
R/S statement	None
Related compounds
Other anions	Sodium bisulfate Sodium sulfite Sodium bisulfite Sodium persulfate
Other cations	Lithium sulfate Potassium sulfate Magnesium sulfate
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	n, εr, etc. In Mineralogy and Crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of Atoms in a Crystal. In Crystallography, the monoclinic Crystal system is one of the 7 lattice Point groups A crystal system is described by three vectors. In Crystallography, the orthorhombic Crystal system is one of the seven Lattice Point groups Orthorhombic lattices result from stretching Regular hexagon The internal Angles of a regular hexagon (one where all sides and all angles are equal are all 120 ° and the hexagon has 720 degrees A material safety data sheet ( MSDS) is a form containing data regarding the properties of a particular substance This page provides supplementary chemical data on Sodium A material safety data sheet ( MSDS) is a form containing data regarding the properties of a particular substance This page provides supplementary chemical data on Sodium Occupational safety and health is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the Safety, Health and welfare of people engaged in Symbolism The four divisions are typically color-coded with blue indicating level of Health Hazard, red indicating Risk and Safety Statements, also known as R/S statements, R/S numbers, R/S phrases, and R/S sentences, is a system of Hazard codes An ion is an Atom or Molecule which has lost or gained one or more Valence electrons giving it a positive or negative electrical charge Sodium bisulfate, also sodium hydrogen sulfate, has the Chemical formula NaHSO4 Sodium sulfite (sodium sulphite is a soluble compound of Sodium. Sodium hydrogen sulfite or sodium bisulfite is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula NaHSO3 Sodium persulfate ( Na 2 S2[[Oxygen O8]] is a Chemical compound. An ion is an Atom or Molecule which has lost or gained one or more Valence electrons giving it a positive or negative electrical charge Lithium sulfate is a white inorganic salt used to treat Bipolar disorder (see Lithium pharmacology) Potassium sulfate (K2SO4 (in British English potassium sulphate, also called sulphate of potash or archaically known as potash of sulfur Magnesium sulfate is a Chemical compound containing Magnesium and Sulfate, with the formula MgSO4 This page provides supplementary chemical data on Sodium This page provides supplementary chemical data on Sodium The refractive index (or index of Refraction) of a medium is a measure for how much the speed of light (or other waves such as sound waves is reduced inside the medium Measurement The relative static permittivity εr can be measured for static Electric fields as follows first the Capacitance of a test
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Sodium sulfate is the sodium salt of sulfuric acid. This page provides supplementary chemical data on Sodium This page provides supplementary chemical data on Sodium Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy or ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry ( UV/ VIS) involves the Spectroscopy of Photons in the UV-visible Infrared spectroscopy (IR spectroscopy is the subset of Spectroscopy that deals with the Infrared region of the Electromagnetic spectrum. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, most commonly known as NMR spectroscopy, is the name given to a technique which exploits the magnetic properties of certain nuclei Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that identifies the chemical composition of a compound or sample based on the Mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles In Chemistry, the standard state of a material is its state at 1 bar (100 Kilopascals exactly Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 Sulfuric (or sulphuric acid, H 2 S[[oxygen O]]4 is a strong Mineral acid. Anhydrous, it is a white crystalline solid of formula Na₂SO₄; the decahydrate Na₂SO₄·10H₂O has been known as Glauber's salt or, historically, sal mirabilis since the 17th century. As a general term a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no Water. Hydrate is a term used in Inorganic chemistry and Organic chemistry to indicate that a substance contains Water. With an annual production of 6 million tonnes, it is one of the world's major commodity chemicals. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. A commodity is anything for which there is demand but which is supplied without qualitative differentiation across a market

Sodium sulfate is mainly used for the manufacture of detergents and in the Kraft process of paper pulping. A detergent (as a noun is a material intended to assist Cleaning. The Kraft process (also known as Kraft pulping or sulfate process) describes a technology for conversion of wood into Wood pulp consisting of almost pure Pulping is the process of converting Wood or lignocellulosic nonwood material to separated pulp fibers for papermaking About two thirds of the world's production is from mirabilite, the natural mineral form of the decahydrate, and the remainder from by-products of chemical processes such as hydrochloric acid production. Mirabilite, also known as "Glauber's salt" is a hydrous Sodium sulfate mineral Na2SO4 · 10H2O A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals Hydrochloric acid is the Solution of Hydrogen chloride ( H[[Chlorine Cl]] in water

Contents 1 History 2 Physical and chemical properties 3 Production 3.1 Natural sources 3.2 Chemical industry 4 Applications 4.1 Commodity industries 4.2 Thermal storage 4.3 Small-scale applications 5 Safety 6 References 7 External links

History

The hydrate of sodium sulfate is known as Glauber's Salt after the Dutch/German apothecary Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604–1670), who discovered it in Hungarian spring water. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Johann Rudolf Glauber ( 1604 (? March 10 1670) a German - Dutch alchemist and Chemist. He himself named it sal mirabilis (miraculous salt), because of its medicinal properties: the crystals were used as a general purpose laxative, until more sophisticated alternatives came about in the 1900s. Laxatives (or purgatives) are foods compounds or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool most often taken to treat Constipation. ^[1][2]

In the 18th century, Glauber's salt began to be used as a raw material for the industrial production of soda ash (sodium carbonate), by reaction with potash (potassium carbonate). The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), is a Sodium Salt of Carbonic acid. Carbonate of potash redirects here For one of potassium carbonate's impure forms see Potash. Requirement for soda ash increased and supply of sodium sulfate had to increase in line. Therefore, in the nineteenth century, the Leblanc process, producing synthetic sodium sulfate as a key intermediate, became the principal method of soda ash production. The Leblanc process was the industrial process for the production of soda ash ( Sodium carbonate) used throughout the 19th century named after its inventor Nicolas ^[3]

Physical and chemical properties

Sodium sulfate is chemically very stable, being unreactive toward most oxidising or reducing agents at normal temperatures. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state At high temperatures, it can be reduced to sodium sulfide. Sodium sulfide is the name used to refer to the Chemical compound Na2S but more commonly its hydrate ^[4] It is a neutral salt, which forms aqueous solutions with pH of 7. In Computer science, ACID ( Atomicity Consistency Isolation Durability) is a set of properties that guarantee that Database transactions are The neutrality of such solutions reflects the fact that Na₂SO₄ is derived, formally speaking, from the strong acid sulfuric acid and a strong base sodium hydroxide. Sulfuric (or sulphuric acid, H 2 S[[oxygen O]]4 is a strong Mineral acid. Sodium hydroxide ( Na[[hydroxide OH]]) also known as Lye, caustic soda and (incorrectly according to IUPAC nomenclature Sodium sulfate reacts with an equivalent amount of sulfuric acid to give an equilibrium concentration of the acid salt sodium bisulfate^[5][6]:

Na₂SO₄(aq) + H₂SO₄(aq) ⇌ 2 NaHSO₄(aq)

In fact, the equilibrium is very complex, depending on concentration and temperature, with other acid salts being present. In a Chemical process, chemical equilibrium is the state in which the chemical activities or Concentrations of the reactants and products have no net change In Chemistry, concentration is the measure of how much of a given substance there is mixed with another substance Acid salts are a class of salts formed when a dibasic or tribasic Acid has been neutralized to some degree Sodium bisulfate, also sodium hydrogen sulfate, has the Chemical formula NaHSO4 Sodium bisulfate, also sodium hydrogen sulfate, has the Chemical formula NaHSO4 In Chemistry, concentration is the measure of how much of a given substance there is mixed with another substance

Sodium sulfate is a typical ionic sulfate, containing Na⁺ ions and SO₄²⁻ ions. An ion is an Atom or Molecule which has lost or gained one or more Valence electrons giving it a positive or negative electrical charge Aqueous solutions can produce precipitates when combined with salts of Ba²⁺ or Pb²⁺, which form insoluble sulfates

Na₂SO₄(aq) + BaCl₂(aq) → 2 NaCl(aq) + BaSO₄(s)

Sodium sulfate has unusual solubility characteristics in water. Barium (ˈbɛəriəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol Ba, and Atomic number 56 Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly Barium Chloride is the ionic Chemical compound with the formula BaCl2 For sodium chloride in the diet see Salt. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or Halite, is a Barium sulfate is a white crystalline solid with the chemical formula BaSO4 A solid' object is in the States of matter characterized by resistance to Deformation and changes of Volume. ^[7] Its solubility rises more than tenfold between 0 °C to 32. 4 °C, where it reaches a maximum of 49. 7 g Na₂SO₄ per 100 g water. At this point the solubility curve changes slope, and the solubility becomes almost independent of temperature. In the presence of NaCl, the solubility of sodium sulfate is markedly diminished. For sodium chloride in the diet see Salt. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or Halite, is a Such changes provide the basis for the use of sodium sulfate in passive solar heating systems, as well is in the preparation and purification of sodium sulfate. Solar heating is the usage of Solar energy to provide process space or Water heating. This nonconformity can be explained in terms of hydration, since 32. 4 °C corresponds with the temperature at which the crystalline decahydrate (Glauber's salt) changes to give a sulfate liquid phase and an anhydrous solid phase.

Sodium sulfate decahydrate is also unusual among hydrated salts in having a measureable residual entropy (entropy at absolute zero) of 6. Residual entropy is physically significant Entropy, which is present even after a substance is cooled arbitrarily close to Absolute zero. Absolute zero is the point at which molecules do not move (relative to the rest of the body more than they are required to by a quantum mechanical effect called Zero-point 32 J·K^-1·mol^-1. This is ascribed to its ability to distribute water much more rapidly compared to most hydrates. ^[8]

Sodium sulfate displays a moderate tendency to form double salts. Double salts are Salts containing more than one Cation or Anion. The only alums formed with common trivalent metals are NaAl(SO₄)₂ (unstable above 39 °C) and NaCr(SO₄)₂, in contrast to potassium sulfate and ammonium sulfate which form many stable alums. For the purely-slang term alum meaning "graduate" see Alumnus. Potassium sulfate (K2SO4 (in British English potassium sulphate, also called sulphate of potash or archaically known as potash of sulfur Ammonium sulfate, (NH42SO4 is an inorganic chemical compound commonly used as a fertilizer ^[9] Double salts with some other alkali metal sulfates are known, including Na₂SO₄. 3K₂SO₄ which occurs naturally as the mineral glaserite. Potassium sulfate (K2SO4 (in British English potassium sulphate, also called sulphate of potash or archaically known as potash of sulfur Formation of glaserite by reaction of sodium sulfate with potassium chloride has been used as the basis of a method for producing potassium sulfate, a fertiliser. The Chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl is a Metal Halide salt composed of Potassium and Chlorine. Potassium sulfate (K2SO4 (in British English potassium sulphate, also called sulphate of potash or archaically known as potash of sulfur Fertilizers ( also spelt fertiliser are chemical compounds given to Plants to promote growth they are usually applied either through the soil for uptake by plant ^[10] Other double salts include 3Na₂SO₄. CaSO₄, 3Na₂SO₄. MgSO₄ (vanthoffite) and NaF. Na₂SO₄. ^[11]

Production

The world production of sodium sulfate, mostly in the form of the decahydrate amounts to approximately 5. 5 to 6 million tonnes annually (Mt/a). In 1985, production was 4. 5 Mt/a, half from natural sources, and half from chemical production. After 2000, at a stable level until 2006, natural production had increased to 4 Mt/a, and chemical production decreased to 1. 5 to 2 Mt/a, with a total of 5. 5 to 6 Mt/a. ^{[12][13][14][15]} For all applications, naturally produced and chemically produced sodium sulfate are practically interchangeable.

Natural sources

Two thirds of the world's production of the decahydrate (Glauber's salt) is from the natural mineral form mirabilite, for example as found in lake beds in southern Saskatchewan. Mirabilite, also known as "Glauber's salt" is a hydrous Sodium sulfate mineral Na2SO4 · 10H2O Saskatchewan (səˈskætʃəwən) is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of 588276 In 1990, Mexico and Spain were the world's main producers of natural sodium sulfate (each around 500,000 tonnes), with Russia, USA and Canada around 350,000 tonnes each. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page ^[13] Estimatedly, natural resources amount to over 1 billion tonnes. ^[12][13]

Major producers of 200–1500 Mt/a in 2006 include Searles Valley Minerals (California, USA), Airborne Industrial Minerals (Saskatchewan, Canada), Química del Rey (Coahuila, Mexico), Criaderos Minerales Y Derivados and Minera de Santa Marta, also known as Grupo Crimidesa (Burgos, Spain), FMC Foret (Toledo, Spain), Sulquisa (Madrid, Spain), and in China Chengdu Sanlian Tianquan Chemical (Sichuan), Hongze Yinzhu Chemical Group (Jiangsu), Nafine Chemical Industry Group (Shanxi), and Sichuan Province Chuanmei Mirabilite (Sichuan), and Kuchuksulphat JSC (Altai Krai, Siberia, Russia). ^[12][14]

Anhydrous sodium sulfate occurs in arid environments as the mineral thenardite. Thenardite is an anhydrous Sodium sulfate mineral Na2SO4 which occurs in arid Evaporite environments It slowly turns to mirabilite in damp air. Sodium sulfate is also found as glauberite, a calcium sodium sulfate mineral. Glauberite is a mineral Sodium Calcium Sulfate with the formula Na 2 Ca ( S[[oxygen O]]42 Both minerals are less common than mirabilite.

Chemical industry

About one third of the world's sodium sulfate is produced as by-product of other processes in chemical industry. Most of this production is chemically inherent to the primary process, and only marginally economical. By effort of the industry, therefore, sodium sulfate production as by-product is declining.

The most important chemical sodium sulfate production is during hydrochloric acid production, either from sodium chloride (salt) and sulfuric acid, in the Mannheim process, or from sulfur dioxide in the Hargreaves process. Hydrochloric acid is the Solution of Hydrogen chloride ( H[[Chlorine Cl]] in water For sodium chloride in the diet see Salt. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or Halite, is a Sulfuric (or sulphuric acid, H 2 S[[oxygen O]]4 is a strong Mineral acid. The Mannheim process is an important method for the manufacture of Hydrogen chloride and Sodium sulfate from Sodium chloride (table salt and Sulfuric ^[16][17] The resulting sodium sulfate from these processes are known as salt cake.

Mannheim: 2 NaCl + H₂SO₄ → 2 HCl + Na₂SO₄

Hargreaves: 4 NaCl + 2 SO₂ + O₂ + 2 H₂O → 4 HCl + 2 Na₂SO₄

The second major production of sodium sulfate are the processes where surplus sulfuric acid is neutralised by sodium hydroxide, as applied on a large scale in the production of rayon. For sodium chloride in the diet see Salt. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or Halite, is a Sulfuric (or sulphuric acid, H 2 S[[oxygen O]]4 is a strong Mineral acid. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Water ( H2[[oxygen O]] H OH) is the most abundant Molecule on Earth 's surface composing of about 70% of the Earth's surface as Sodium hydroxide ( Na[[hydroxide OH]]) also known as Lye, caustic soda and (incorrectly according to IUPAC nomenclature Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulosic Fiber. Rayon is produced from naturally occurring Polymers and therefore it is not a truly This method is also a regularly applied and convenient laboratory preparation.

2 NaOH(aq) + H₂SO₄(aq) → Na₂SO₄(aq) + 2 H₂O(l)

Formerly, sodium sulfate was also a by-product of the manufacture of sodium dichromate, where sulfuric acid is added to sodium chromate solution forming sodium dichromate, or subsequently chromic acid. Sodium hydroxide ( Na[[hydroxide OH]]) also known as Lye, caustic soda and (incorrectly according to IUPAC nomenclature Liquid is one of the principal States of matter. A liquid is a Fluid that has the particles loose and can freely form a distinct surface at the boundaries of Sodium dichromate is the Chemical compound with the formula Na2Cr2O7 Alternatively, sodium sulfate is or was formed in the production of lithium carbonate, chelating agents, resorcinol, ascorbic acid, silica pigments, nitric acid, and phenol. Lithium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the formula Li2CO3 Chelation is the binding or complexation of a bi- or multidentate Ligand. Resorcinol (or resorcin) is a Chemical compound from the dihydroxy Phenols it is the 13- Isomer of Benzenediol. This article deals with the molecular aspects of ascorbic acid The Chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica or silox (from the Latin " Silex " is an Oxide Nitric acid ( H[[nitrate NO3]] also known as Aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and Phenol, is a toxic colourless Crystalline Solid with a sweet tarry odor commonly referred to as a "hospital smell" ^[12]

Bulk sodium sulfate is usually purified via the decahydrate form, since the anhydrous form tends to attract iron compounds and organic compounds. Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 An organic compound is any member of a large class of Chemical compounds whose Molecules contain Carbon. The anhydrous form is easily produced from the hydrated form by gentle warming.

Major sodium sulfate by-product producers of 50–80 Mt/a in 2006 include Elementis Chromium (chromium industry, Castle Hayne, NC, USA), Lenzing AG (200 Mt/a, rayon industry, Lenzing, Austria), Addiseo (formerly Rhodia, methionine industry, Les Roches-Roussillon, France), Elementis (chromium industry, Stockton-on-Tees, UK), Shikoku Chemicals (Tokushima, Japan) and Visko-R (rayon industry, Russia). ^[12]

Applications

Sodium sulfate as a drying agent(1) Drying a wet organic phase using sodium sulfate, which clumps, indicating that more sodium sulfate is needed. details and copyright info In case of problems, see media help.

Sodium sulfate as a drying agent(2) Drying a fairly dry organic phase using sodium sulfate, which does not clump, indicating that the solution is dry. details and copyright info In case of problems, see media help.

Commodity industries

With USA pricing at $30 per tonne in 1970, in 2006 up to $90 per tonne for salt cake quality and $130 for better grades, sodium sulfate is a very cheap material. The largest use is as filler in powdered home laundry detergents, consuming approx. A detergent (as a noun is a material intended to assist Cleaning. 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. ^[12]

Another formerly major use for sodium sulfate, notably in the USA and Canada, is in the Kraft process for the manufacture of wood pulp. The Kraft process (also known as Kraft pulping or sulfate process) describes a technology for conversion of wood into Wood pulp consisting of almost pure Wood pulp is a dry fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating the fibers which make up Wood. 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. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state Sodium sulfide is the name used to refer to the Chemical compound Na2S but more commonly its hydrate However, this process is being replaced by newer processes; use of sodium sulfate in the USA and Canadian pulp industry declined from 1. 4 Mt/a in 1970 to only approx. 150,000 tonnes in 2006. ^[12]

The glass industry provides another significant application for sodium sulfate, as second largest application in Europe. Glass in the common sense refers to a Hard, Brittle, transparent Solid, such as that used for Windows many Sodium sulfate 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 in Europe has been consuming from 1970 to 2006 a stable 110,000 tonnes annually. ^[12]

Sodium sulfate is important in the manufacture of textiles, particularly in Japan, where it is the largest application. A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Sodium sulfate helps in "levelling", reducing negative charges on fibres so that dyes can penetrate evenly. Unlike the alternative sodium chloride, it does not corrode the stainless steel vessels used in dyeing. For sodium chloride in the diet see Salt. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or Halite, is a In Metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as a Steel Alloy with a minimum of 11 This application in Japan and USA consumed in 2006 approximately 100,000 tonnes. ^[12]

Thermal storage

The high heat storage capacity in the phase change from solid to liquid, and the advantageous phase change temperature of 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) makes this material especially appropriate for storing low grade solar heat for later release in space heating applications. In some application the material is incorporated into thermal tiles that are placed in an attic space while in other applications the salt is incorporated into cells surrounded by solar–heated water. The phase change allows a substantial reduction in the mass of the material required for effective heat storage (83 calories per gram stored across the phase change, versus one calorie per gram per degree Celsius using only water), with the further advantage of a consistency of temperature as long as sufficient material in the appropriate phase is available.

Small-scale applications

In the laboratory, anhydrous sodium sulfate is widely used as an inert drying agent, for removing traces of water from organic solutions. A Desiccant is a Hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains a state of dryness ( Desiccation) in its local vicinity in a moderately-well sealed container ^[18] It is more efficient, but slower-acting, than the similar agent magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate is a Chemical compound containing Magnesium and Sulfate, with the formula MgSO4 It is only effective below about 30 °C, but it can 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; the two video clips (see above) demonstrate how the crystals clump when still wet, but some crystals flow freely once a sample is dry.

Glauber's salt, the decahydrate, was historically used as a laxative. Laxatives (or purgatives) are foods compounds or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool most often taken to treat Constipation. It is effective for the removal of certain drugs such as acetaminophen from the body, for example, after an overdose. Paracetamol ( INN) (ˌpærəˈsiːtəmɒl -ˈsɛtə- or acetaminophen ( USAN) is a widely-used Analgesic and Antipyretic Medication ^[19][20]

In 1953, sodium sulfate was proposed for heat storage in passive solar heating systems. In Physics, heat, symbolized by Q, is Energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in Temperature Solar heating is the usage of Solar energy to provide process space or Water heating. This takes advantage of its unusual solubility properties, and the high heat of crystallisation (78. Crystallization is the (natural or artificial process of formation of solid Crystals precipitating from a homogeneous --> identical Solution 2 kJ/mol). ^[21]

Other uses for sodium sulfate include de-frosting windows, in carpet fresheners, starch manufacture, and as an additive to cattle feed. Starch, CAS # 9005-25-8 Chemical formula (C6H10O5n is a Polysaccharide

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, with little concern for adverse reactions or health effects.

At least one company makes a laptop computer chill mat using sodium sulfate decahydrate inside a quilted plastic pad. The material slowly turns to liquid as the heat from the laptop is transferred.

Safety

Although sodium sulfate is generally regarded as non-toxic,^[22] 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. R-phrases (short for Risk Phrases) are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. ^[23]

References

External links

• Sodium sulfate information of Airborne Industrial Minerals
• Sodium sulfate website of Elementis Chromium

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