A chemical compound like Sodium Acetate is made up of one sodium (Na) atom, two oxygen (O) atoms, two carbon (C) atoms, and three hydrogens (H) atoms. Sodium acetate is the sodium salt of acetic acid. The sodium Acetate formula is NaCH3COO.NaCH3COO. It can also be written as C2H3NaO2C2H3NaO2. 

Sodium acetate is also written as NaOAc.NaOAc. It appears as a colourless deliquescent salt. It has got several uses in the textile industry, food, pharmaceutical and other industries. Let us discuss more sodium acetate in this article.

Sodium Acetate Chemical Formula

The chemical formula of sodium acetate is \({\rm{NaC}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COO}}\)  It is a salt containing sodium \({\rm{(N}}{{\rm{a}}^ + })\) and \({\rm{(C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{CO}}{{\rm{O}}^ – })\) ions. It is considered as an ionic compound. Sodium acetate can be represented as,

Sodium Acetate Chemical Formula: \(CH_{3\;}COONa\)
Sodium Acetate Molecular Formula: \(C_2H_3NaO_2\)

The molar mass of sodium acetate is \(82.034\,{\rm{g}}/{\rm{mol}}{\rm{.}}\)

Sodium Acetate Chemical Formula Derivation

The chemical formula of sodium acetate can be derived using the Criss-cross method. 

In the criss-cross method, using the valency of the constituent elements of a compound, we can easily write its chemical formula. On the left side, the symbol of the positive part is written, and on the right side, the negative part is written. The valency of one element is placed as a subscript on the symbol of the other element. Subscript one is not written generally. Signs of the charges are discarded.

Using this, the chemical formula of sodium acetate can be found as,

Sodium acetate contains sodium \({\rm{(N}}{{\rm{a}}^ + })\) and acetate \({\rm{(C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{CO}}{{\rm{O}}^ – })\) radicals.  The valency of sodium radical is one, and that of acetate radical is also one. By crisscrossing these valency numbers, the chemical formula of sodium acetate is \({\rm{NaC}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COO}}.\) That is,

Preparation of Sodium Acetate

Sodium acetate can be prepared using the following methods:

1. Sodium acetate can be prepared in the laboratory by the addition of acetic acid (vinegar) to sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydroxide. 
   For example, sodium acetate is produced when acetic acid is reacted with sodium carbonate. The chemical equation for the reaction can be given as,
   \({\rm{2C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COOH + N}}{{\rm{a}}_2}{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_3} \to 2{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COONa + C}}{{\rm{O}}_2} + {{\rm{H}}_2}{\rm{O}}\)
   Similarly, sodium bicarbonate reacts with acetic acid to form sodium acetate. The chemical equation for the reaction can be given as,
   \({\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COOH + NaHC}}{{\rm{O}}_3} \to {\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COONa}} + {{\rm{H}}_2}{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_3}\)
   The reaction of sodium hydroxide with acetic acid also produces sodium acetate. The chemical equation for the reaction can be given as,
   \({\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COOH + NaOH}} \to {\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COONa}} + {{\rm{H}}_2}{\rm{O}}\)
2. The reaction between acetic acid and sodium metal also produces sodium acetate along with the liberation of hydrogen gas. The chemical equation for the reaction can be given as,
   \({\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COOH + 2Na}} \to {\rm{2C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COONa + }}{{\rm{H}}_2}\)

Properties of Sodium Acetate

Let us discuss the physical and chemical properties of sodium acetate.

Physical Properties of Sodium Acetate

1. Sodium acetate appears as a white powder.
2. It is deliquescent in nature. This means that it has the tendency to absorb the moisture from the air and dissolve in it.
3. It is soluble in water, alcohol, hydrazine, and sulphur dioxide.
4. The melting point of sodium acetate is approximately equal to \(597\,{\rm{K}}\) and its boiling point is approximately equal to \(1154.4\,\,{\rm{K}}.\)
5. The density of sodium acetate is \(1.528\,{\rm{g}}/{\rm{c}}{{\rm{m}}^3}.\)

Chemical Properties of Sodium Acetate

The chemical properties of sodium acetate are discussed below:

Reactions of Sodium Acetate

1. Reaction of Sodium Acetate with an Alkyl Halide: 

Sodium acetate reacts with an alkyl halide like bromoethane to give an ester. The chemical equation for the reaction can be given as,

\({\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COONa}}{\mkern 1mu} + {\mkern 1mu} {\rm{BrC}}{{\rm{H}}_2}{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\mkern 1mu} {\mkern 1mu} \to {\mkern 1mu} {\mkern 1mu} {\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COOC}}{{\rm{H}}_2}{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3} + {\rm{NaBr}}\)

2. Reaction of Sodium Acetate with Sodium Hydroxide:

Under forced conditions, pyrolysis of sodium acetate in the presence of sodium hydroxide results in the formation of methane. The chemical equation for the reaction can be given as,

\({\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COONa}} + {\rm{NaOH}}\, \to \,{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_4} + {\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}_2}{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_3}\)

Calcium oxide or any cesium salt can be used as a catalyst for the above reaction. If calcium oxide is used as the catalyst, the process occurring here is soda lime \({\rm{(NaOH}}\,{\rm{ + }}\,{\rm{CaO)}}\) decarboxylation.

3. Reaction of Sodium Acetate with Acetyl Chloride:

Sodium acetate reacts with acetyl chloride to give acetic anhydride and sodium chloride. The chemical equation for the reaction can be given as,

\({\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COONa}}{\mkern 1mu} {\mkern 1mu} {\rm{ + }}{\mkern 1mu} {\mkern 1mu} {\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COCl}}{\mkern 1mu} {\mkern 1mu} \to {\mkern 1mu} {\mkern 1mu} {\left( {{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{CO}}} \right)_2}{\rm{O + NaCl}}\)

4. Reaction of Sodium Acetate with Hydrochloric Acid:

Acetic acid and sodium chloride are produced when sodium acetate reacts with hydrochloric acid. The chemical equation for the reaction can be given as,

\({\rm{HCl}}{\mkern 1mu} {\rm{ + }}{\mkern 1mu} {\rm{NaC}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COO}}{\mkern 1mu} {\mkern 1mu} \to {\mkern 1mu} {\rm{NaCl}}{\mkern 1mu} + {\mkern 1mu} {\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COOH}}\)

5. A solution of acetic acid and sodium acetate is an example of a buffer solution (An aqueous solution consisting of a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or vice versa).

Uses of Sodium Acetate

Sodium acetate has got several uses. They include:

1. For culturing bacteria, sodium acetate is used as a carbon source.
2. Sodium acetate is used for increasing the yield of DNA isolation
3. To neutralize sulphuric acid waste streams, sodium acetate is used in the textile industry.
4. In chrome tanning, it is used as a pickling agent.
5. Sodium acetate helps to impede the vulcanization of chloroprene in synthetic rubber.
6. In the processing of disposable cotton pads, sodium acetate eliminates the buildup of static electricity.
7. In food, sodium acetate is used as a seasoning.
8. Anhydrous sodium acetate is used as a shelf-life extending agent and a pH controlling agent.
9. A solution of acetic acid and sodium acetate is used as a buffer solution in biochemical applications.
10. Sodium acetate is used in hot ice, heating pads and hand warmers.
11. In potato chips, sodium acetate is used to give a flavour of salt and vinegar.
12. In aniline dyes, sodium acetate is used as a photoresist.

Summary

Sodium acetate is a chemical compound with the formula \({\rm{NaC}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COO}}.\) It is the sodium salt of acetic acid. The action of acetic acid can prepare it with sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydroxide. It appears as a white deliquescent powder. It is considered an ionic compound. The other preparation methods, the physical and chemical properties and their uses are explained in this article.

FAQs

Q.1. What is the formula of sodium acetate?
Ans: Sodium acetate is a chemical compound with the formula \({\rm{NaC}}{{\rm{H}}_3}{\rm{COO}}.\) It is the sodium salt of acetic acid.

Q.2. What is the use of sodium acetate?
Ans: Sodium acetate has several uses. It is used for culturing bacteria, used for increasing the yield of DNA isolation, to neutralize sulphuric acid waste streams, used in the textile industry, used as a pickling agent, etc. 

Q.3. Is sodium acetate an acid?
Ans: No, sodium acetate is a salt made from a weak acid and a strong base. In other words, it is the sodium salt of acetic acid.

 Q.4. Is sodium acetate baking soda?
Ans: No, sodium acetate is a salt that can be prepared from baking soda by the addition of acetic acid.

Q.5. What is \({{\rm{C}}_2}{{\rm{H}}_3}{{\rm{O}}_2}{\rm{Na}}\).
Ans.\({{\rm{C}}_2}{{\rm{H}}_3}{{\rm{O}}_2}{\rm{Na}}\) is sodium acetate. It is the sodium salt of acetic acid.

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