Sodium acetate trihydrate and anhydrous, more commonly referred to as E262 (or E-262), is a colorless to yellowish powder that is hygroscopic. It has the chemical formula, NaH2C(O)3 and this compound is soluble in water and alcohol, as well as organic solvents such as ethers, chloroform and benzene.
Sodium Acetate Trihydrate (E262) and Anhydrous (E262i) are used in food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cleaning products and other industries. The most common application is as a pH neutralizer for starch-based foods such as canned vegetables and fruit. It is used with sodium forms of citric acid and acetic acid to ensure that these products do not become highly acidic upon storage.
How is Sodium Acetate made?
Sodium acetate trihydrate is made by the reaction of acetic acid with sodium hydroxide at high temperatures. The reaction can be conducted in two ways:
In the first method, sodium hydroxide is added to a solution of acetic acid in water. As soon as the temperature reaches 60 degrees Celsius, the mixture begins to boil and carbon dioxide gas appears. At 100 degrees Celsius, a slight change in color occurs and all water evaporates from the solution. After that, acetic acid remains only in its salt form – sodium acetate trihydrate.
The second method for making sodium acetate trihydrate involves adding sodium hydroxide to a solution of acetic acid in water at room temperature or slightly higher temperatures (up to 95 degrees Celsius). This method works well for making large amounts of sodium acetate trihydrate but it requires expensive equipment and time.
Specification
| CAS number | 127-09-3 (Anhydrous), 6131-90-4 (Trihydrate) |
| Chemical formula | C2H3NaO2·nH2O (n = 0 or 3) |
| Molecular weight | 82.03 (Anhydrous), 136.08 (Trihydrate) |
| PH | The PH value of the weak alkali is 8.0-9.5 (1 % aqueous solution). |
| PKa | 4.75 |
| PKb | 9.25 |
| Melting point | 58 °C (Trihydrate) |
| Solubility | Very soluble in water 20°C, solubility: 46.5g/100ml (trihydrate), 50g/100ml (anhydrous ). Soluble in ethanol. |
How is Sodium Acetate Used?
Food
- The purpose of a pH regulator is to maintain a specific pH content in food when used in conjunction with acetic acid, and sometimes in the form of sodium diacetate, which combines sodium acetate and acetic acid at a 1:1 molar ratio.
- Preservative: prevents the growth of microorganisms.
- Combining acetic acid with vinegar to make the sour flavor of acetic acid mild.
- Medical use
DNA extraction and precipitation
Is sodium acetate safe to consume?
FDA
- 0.6% of grain products, pastas, and snack foods
- 0.5% fats and oils
- 0.2% soft candy
- 0.15% hard candy
- 0.12% for jams, jellies, and meat products
- Sweet sauces, soups and soup mixes 0.05%
- Cereals for breakfast 0.007%
EFSA
JECFA
What is sodium acetate anhydrous ?
Sodium acetate anhydrous (sodium acetate trihydrate) is a white, water-soluble solid that is used as a food additive, antifreeze and a preservative. It is also used in the manufacture of other chemicals.
Sodium acetate trihydrate is produced by reacting sodium bicarbonate with acetic acid. This reaction occurs when sodium bicarbonate solutions are exposed to air due to the presence of carbon dioxide. The sodium bicarbonate decomposes into sodium carbonate, water and carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas reacts with acetic acid to produce sodium acetate trihydrate:
NaHCO3 + CO2 -> Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
What is the difference between sodium acetate trihydrate and anhydrous ?
Sodium acetate trihydrate and anhydrous are used for the production of sodium acetate trihydrate. The difference between them is that anhydrous is the form in which it is most commonly used as a reagent, while sodium acetate trihydrate is the form in which it is most commonly sold. Anhydrous can be used for making other products such as starch, but sodium acetate trihydrate is mainly used for making sodium acetate trihydrate and calcium hydroxide.
Anhydrous can be found in many different places, but sodium acetate trihydrate is only made by reacting acetic acid with calcium hydroxide under heat and pressure. Both substances are white solids, but anhydrous has a higher melting point than sodium acetate trihydrate (about 50°C vs 30°C). However, this does not affect their uses or effects on other substances.
How to make sodium acetate trihydrate from anhydrous sodium acetate ?
If you want to make sodium acetate trihydrate from anhydrous sodium acetate, you need the following materials: Sodium Acetate Trihydrate powder, Anhydrous Sodium Acetate powder, Water and Ethyl Alcohol.
1. Mixing water and Ethyl Alcohol together in a beaker or glass container. The mixture needs to be 70% alcohol and 30% water (by weight). If you have access to a lab balance and know how to use it, this will be easier. Otherwise, just use the eye-ball test and try to get as close as possible without having any excess on either side of the equation
2. Dissolving the Anhydrous Sodium Acetate in the alcohol/water mixture
3. Adding Sodium Acetate Trihydrate powder slowly while stirring with a stirrer/stir bar
4. Continue stirring until all of the Sodium Acetate Trihydrate has dissolved
Sodium acetate trihydrate structure ?
Sodium acetate trihydrate is an ionic compound of sodium and acetic acid with the chemical formula of NaCHCOO. It is also called sodium ethanoate, disodium ethanoate or simply sodium ethanoate.
Sodium acetate trihydrate can be prepared by dissolving sodium acetate in water followed by the addition of concentrated sulfuric acid. The reaction produces a solution of sodium sulfate with excess water that must be evaporated to obtain the desired product.
The crystal structure of sodium acetate trihydrate consists of three molecules of water and one molecule of acetic acid per unit cell. The three molecules of water are located at the center of each face; there are four water molecules at each vertex and eight water molecules at each edge.
Sodium acetate anhydrous price ?
Sodium acetate anhydrous is a white crystal or crystalline powder, which is odorless, taste bitter and soluble in water. It can be used as a preservative in food, cosmetics and medicine. It is also used as a food additive and raw material for chemical industries.
Sodium acetate anhydrous price is around US $10-30/kg.
Frequently asked questions
Is sodium acetate an acid or a base?
Trihydrate of sodium acetate is an acid. It is a salt of acetic acid and sodium hydroxide. Acetic acid is the primary acid in vinegar, while sodium hydroxide is the primary base in baking soda. Sodium acetate trihydrate is also known as sodium triacetoxyacetic acid or NaOAc-NaOH.
Sodium acetate trihydrate is an ionic compound with a formula of Na3C3H5O2H2. It’s composed of three molecules of sodium acetate (a salt), one molecule of water, and two molecules of acetic acid (an acid). The salt has a pH less than 1, which means it’s acidic, whereas the acetic acid has a pH greater than 7, which means it’s basic (basic = more alkaline than acidic).
Sodium acetate vs acetic acid?
Sodium acetate is a white or colorless crystalline powder that is soluble in water. It has a very low odor and a slightly salty taste. Sodium acetate is used as a food additive, as an electrolyte replenisher, as a buffer and as an acidity regulator. The sodium salt of acetic acid is also known as sodium ethanoate, sodium ethanoate monohydrate, sodium acetate trihydrate or N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-ethyl carbonate.
Sodium acetate trihydrate is a white crystalline solid with a molecular formula of CHNaO and molecular weight of 120.11 g/mol. It is produced by the reaction between acetic acid and sodium carbonate in water at normal pressure and temperature.
Why is sodium acetate trihydrate called hot ice?
Sodium acetate trihydrate is a white crystalline substance that is often referred to as hot ice. It can be produced by dissolving sodium acetate in water and then adding an acid. The addition of the acid causes the release of latent heat from the crystals as they dissolve. The result is that the temperature of the solution decreases below freezing point, which is why it is also called hot ice.
Sodium acetate trihydrate has a melting point of -33.1 °C (it freezes at -30 °C), so it can only be produced when temperatures are above this level.
It was discovered by accident in 1893 by American chemist John E Pidgeon who was studying how different substances reacted with sodium acetate solutions.
Conclusion
Sodium Acetate Trihydrate is widely used in food, pharmaceutical, personal-care and other industrial applications. As a food additive, it functions as a pH control agent, binder and mold inhibitor. In addition to use as a preservative and stabilizer, it can be used to mask taste defect of foods by acting as a flavor enhancer. Also, it can be used as an acidity regulator and can increase the dissolution rate of tablets.
