Sodium Sulfate 500 gm Merck, India

Sodium Sulfate anhydrous granulated for organic trace analysis is a chemistry laboratory chemical. It is mainly used for the manufacturing of detergent powder and in the Kraft process of paper pulping, although it has many other uses in our country. About half of the world’s production is from the natural mineral form of the decahydrate (mirabilite), and half from by-products of chemical processes. Sodium Sulfate is also used to dry organic liquids.

• Chemical Name: Sodium Sulphate Anhydrous
• Chemical Formula: Na₂SO₄
• Pack Size: 500 gm
• Brand: Merck, India

General Uses of Sodium Sulfate (Na₂SO₄) in Laboratory:

Sodium sulfate is widely used inorganic compound in laboratory settings due to its chemical stability, low toxicity, and hygroscopic properties. Here are the common uses:

Drying Agent (Desiccant):

• Anhydrous sodium sulfate is commonly used to remove water from organic solvents.
• It is especially preferred in post-reaction workups to dry organic layers after extraction.
• Less reactive than magnesium sulfate, making it ideal for moisture-sensitive substances.

Inorganic Reagent:

• Acts as a source of sulfate ions in analytical and preparative chemistry.
• Used in qualitative inorganic analysis to test for cation reactions with sulfate.

Standard in Calorimetry:

• Hydrated sodium sulfate (Glauber’s salt) is sometimes used as a reference material in thermal analysis (like DSC or TGA).

Supporting Electrolyte:

• In electrochemical experiments, sodium sulfate solutions are used as inert electrolytes.
• It helps maintain ionic strength without participating in the redox reactions.

Sample Preparation:

• Used in some protocols for protein precipitation or other sample cleanup methods.
• Can assist in salting-out processes to concentrate analytes from aqueous samples.

Teaching and Demonstration:

• Used in school and college labs for safe demonstrations involving salts, solubility, or hydration/dehydration.
• Often included in introductory lab kits due to its safety and low cost.

⚠️ Note: Although sodium sulfate is generally safe, it should still be handled with care in a lab environment—using gloves, goggles, and proper ventilation where appropriate.