Overview

Sodium acetate (SO-dee-um ASS-uh-tate) is a colorless, odorless crystalline solid that often occurs as the trihydrate: NaC₂H₃O₂·3H₂O. A hydrate is a chemical compound formed when one or more molecules of water is physically added to the molecule of some other substance. Sodium acetate trihydrate has three molecules of water of hydration for every NaC₂H₃O₂ unit. Anhydrous sodium acetate readily converts to the trihydrate because it is very hygroscopic. A hygroscopic compound is one that readily absorbs moisture from the air.

How It Is Made

Sodium acetate is prepared by reacting either sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) with acetic acid (HC₂H₃O₂). With sodium hydroxide, for example, the reaction is:

NaOH + HC₂H₃O₂ → NaC₂H₃O₂ + H₂O

Key Facts

Formula:

NaC₂H₃O₂

Elements:

Sodium, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

Compound Type:

Salt (inorganic)

State:

Solid...