Sodium sesquicarbonate
Description
White, needle-shaped crystals. Sodium sesquicarbonate occurs in nature as trona. It is generally used as a water softener and mildly alkaline cleaner. Sodium sesquicarbonate was recommended in the 1970s as a stabilization treatment of corroded bronze and iron objects. However, more recent examinations indicate that bronze pieces treated with sesquicarbonate are later susceptible to the formation of chalconatronite corrosion products.
Synonyms and Related Terms
urao; trona
Other Properties
Soluble in water (pH = 10.1 for a 0.1 molar solution).
| Composition | Na2CO3-NaHCO3-2H2O |
|---|---|
| CAS | 553-96-0 |
| Density | 2.112 |
| Molecular Weight | mol. wt. = 190.0 |
Hazards and Safety
Skin contact causes irritation.
Additional Information
° W.A.Oddy, M.J.Hughes "The Stabilization of Active Bronze and Iron Antiquities by the use of Sodium Sesquicarbonate" Studies in Conservation, 15:183-189, 1970. ° C. Horie, J.Vint, "Chalconatronite: A By-Product of Conservation?" Studies in Conservation, 27:185-186, 1982.
Authority
- Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
- The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 8823