Sodium bisulfate

Description

Colorless crystals or white lumps. Sodium bisulfate is used as an inexpensive substitute for sulfuric acid in dyeing solutions. It is also used in the manufacture of paper, soap, magnesia cements, and acid-based industrial cleaners. Sodium bisulfate acts as a flux in metallurgy. It can pickle metals, carbonize wool, and bleach leather.

Synonyms and Related Terms

sodium acid sulfate; niter cake; sodium hydrogen sulfate; sodium bisulphate (Br.); sodium pyrosulfate

FTIR

Chemical structure

Other Properties

Soluble in water forming an acidic solution (0.1 molar has a pH of 1.4). Decomposes in ethanol to form sodium sulfate and sulfuric acid.

Composition	NaHSO4
CAS	7681-38-1
Melting Point	315
Density	2.435
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. = 120.06
Refractive Index	1.43, 1.46, 1.47

Hazards and Safety

Strongly irritating to skin, eyes and lungs. Hygroscopic. Noncombustible.

Mallinckrodt Baker: MSDS

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 8727

• Website address 1 Comment: www.jetcity.com/~mrjones/chemdesc.htm - photographic chemicals

• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: ref. index = 1.43, 1.46, 1.47

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• MSDS Sheet