Sodium formate

Chembox new
Name = Sodium formate
ImageFile = Sodium-formate-2D.png ImageSize = 200px
ImageName = Structural formula of sodium formate
OtherNames = formic acid, sodium salt
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 141-53-7
EINECS = 205-488-0
Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = HCOONa
MolarMass = 68.01 g/mol
Appearance = white granules
deliquescent
Density = 1.92 g/cm³, solid (20°C)
Solubility = 97g/100ml water (20°C)
MeltingPt = 253°C
BoilingPt = decomposes
pKa = 7.0-8.5 (0.1M)
Section7 = Chembox Hazards
EUClass = not listed
NFPA-H = 1
NFPA-F =
NFPA-R =

Sodium formate, HCOONa, is the sodium salt of formic acid, HCOOH. It usually appears as a white deliquescent powder.

Uses

Sodium formate is used in several fabric dying and printing processes. It is also used as a buffering agent for strong mineral acids to increase their pH.

Preparation

Sodium formate can be prepared in the laboratory by neutralizing formic acid with sodium carbonate. It can also be obtained by reacting chloroform with an alcoholic solution of sodium hydroxide.

::CHCl₃ + 4NaOH → HCOONa + 3NaCl + 2H₂O

or by reacting sodium hydroxide with chloral hydrate.

::C₂HCl₃(OH)₂ + NaOH → CHCl₃ + HCOONa + H₂O

The latter method is generally preferred to the former because the low aqueous solubility of CHCl₃ makes it easier to separate out from the sodium formate solution, by fractional crystallization, than the soluble NaCl would be.

Commercially sodium formate is produced by absorbing carbon monoxide under pressure in solid sodium hydroxide at 160 °C

::CO + NaOH → HCOONa

ee also

* sodium acetate

References