Sodium Sulfate

Other Names:

disodium sulfate

General Information:

Structure:

CAS Number: 7757-82-6

Molecular Weight: 142.04 g/mol

Appearance: White crystalline solid

Chemical Formula: Na2SO4

Anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) is typically used in organic chemistry as a drying agent. After aqueous extractions the organic layer always has a certain amount of water left in it. Adding anhydrous sodium sulfate removes this water by forming the sodium sulfate hydrate, which conveniently is also a solid allowing it to be filtered away. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is a similar drying agent.

Common Uses:

Drying agent for organic solvents (removes H2O)

Procedure excerpt:

. . . The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (2 x 50 mL), dried (Na2SO4), and concentrated to provide the product as a brown gummy solid . . .

[full procedure]

Saturated aq sodium sulfate solutions are sometimes used to quench LiAlH4 reactions

Procedure excerpt:

. . . The reaction was stirred for 1 h, after which time was slowly added sat aq Na2SO4. The mixture was stirred until a precipitate formed, then . . .

[full procedure]

Safety:

Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) is relatively non-toxic. Na2SO4 may cause irritation.

References:

1) Patent Reference: WO2014149164, page 280, (23.7 MB)

2) UK Pat App GB2463151A, page 153

3) Wikipedia: Sodium sulfate (link)

4) www.sigmaaldrich.com: Sodium sulfate (link)