Sodium bisulfate



Sodium bisulfate
General
Systematic name sodium hydrogen sulfate
Other names sodium bisulfate
sodium acid sulfate
Molecular formula NaHSO4
Molar mass 120.06 g/mol (anhydrous)
138.07 g/mol (monohydrate)
Appearance white solid
CAS number [7681-38-1]
Properties
Density 2.742 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
water)

50 g / 100 ml (0°C) (of anhydrous)
100 g / 100ml (100°C) (of anhydrous)

Melting point 58.5°C (monohydrate)
>315°C (anhydrous) w some decomp
Boiling point decomposes to Na2S2O7
pKa (25°C) 1.9
Crystal structure triclinic (anhydrous)
monoclinic (monohydrate)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Sodium bisulfate, also sodium hydrogen sulfate, has the chemical formula NaHSO4.

Production

Sodium bisulfate is produced by two methods. One method involves mixing stoichiometric quantities of sulfuric acid which react to form sodium bisulfate and water.

NaOH + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + H2O

A second production method involves reacting hydrogen chloride gas.

NaCl + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HCl

The liquid sodium bisulfate is sprayed and cooled so that it forms a solid bead. The hydrogen chloride gas is dissolved in water to produce hydrochloric acid as a useful byproduct of the reaction.

Descriptive Chemistry

The product of commerce is anhydrous. The only producer in the USA, Jones Hamilton Company, uses the Sulfuric Acid/Sodium Chloride process, which produces anhydrous product.

Solutions of sodium bisulfate are acid, with a CO2 from most carbonates.

The anhydrous form is hygroscopic. Its melting point is poorly defined because it begins to decompose into sodium pyrosulfate and water before it reaches its melting points.

Sodium bisulfate behaves, to some degree, as if it were a complex of ethanol, which causes them to separate into those two components. [1]

Uses

  • Household cleaners, Sani-Flush, for example (roughly 45%)
  • Silver pickling
  • To reduce pH in swimming pools
  • In pet foods[1]
  • As a preservative for soil samples in analytical laboratory analysis

References

  1. ^ Merck Index of Chemicals and Drugs, 9th ed. monograph 8330
 
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