Sodium aluminate

1
Sodium aluminate
Sodium aluminate
Identifiers
CAS number
1302-42-7
[1]

PubChem
14766
[2]
Jmol-3D images
Image 1
[3]
Properties
Molecular formula NaAlO
2
Molar mass 81.97 g/mol
Appearance white powder (sometimes light-yellowish)
Density
1.5 g/cm
3
Melting point 1650 C
Solubility in water soluble
Solubility in Alcohol soluble
Refractive index (n
D
) 1.58
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25C (77F), 100kPa)
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[4]
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Infoboxreferences
Sodium aluminate is an important commercial inorganic chemical. It works as an effective source of aluminium
hydroxide for many industrial and technical applications. Pure sodium aluminate (anhydrous) is a white crystalline
solid having a formula variously given as NaAlO
2
, NaAl(OH)
4
(hydrated), Na
2
OAl
2
O
3
, or Na
2
Al
2
O
4
. Commercial
sodium aluminate is available as a solution or a solid.
Other related compounds, sometimes called sodium aluminate, prepared by reaction of Na
2
O and Al
2
O
3
are
Na
5
AlO
4
which contains discrete AlO
4
5
anions, Na
7
Al
3
O
8
and Na
17
Al
5
O
16
which contain complex polymeric
anions, and NaAl
11
O
17
, once mistakenly believed to be -alumina, a phase of aluminium oxide.
[5][6]
Structure
Anhydrous sodium aluminate, NaAlO
2
, contains a three-dimensional framework of corner linked AlO
4
tetrahedra.
The hydrated form NaAlO
2
5/4H
2
O has layers of AlO
4
tetrahedra joined into rings and the layers are held together
by sodium ions and water molecules that hydrogen bond to O atoms in the AlO
4
tetrahedra.
[7]
Manufacturing
Sodium aluminate is manufactured by the dissolution of- aluminium hydroxide in a caustic soda (NaOH) solution.
Aluminium hydroxide (gibbsite) can be dissolved in 2025% aqueous NaOH solution at a temperature near the
boiling point. The use of more concentrated NaOH solutions leads to a semi-solid product. The process must be
carried out in steam-heated vessels of nickel or steel, and the aluminium hydroxide should be boiled with
approximately 50% aqueous caustic soda until a pulp forms. The final mixture has to be poured into a tank and
Sodium aluminate
2
cooled; a solid mass containing about 70% NaAlO
2
then forms. After being crushed, this product is dehydrated in a
rotary oven heated either directly or indirectly by burning hydrogen. The resulting product contains 90% NaAlO
2
and 1% water, together with 1% free NaOH.
Reaction of aluminium metal and alkali
Sodium aluminate is also formed by the action of sodium hydroxide on elemental aluminium which is an amphoteric
metal. The reaction is highly exothermic once established and is accompanied by the rapid evolution of hydrogen
gas. The reaction is sometimes written as:
2 Al + 2 NaOH + 2 H
2
O 2 NaAlO
2
+ 3 H
2
however the species produced in solution is likely to contain the [Al(OH)
4
]

ion or perhaps the [Al(H
2
O)
2
(OH)
4
]

.
This reaction has been proposed as a potential source of fuel for hydrogen powered cars.
Uses
In water treatment it is used as an adjunct to water softening systems, as a coagulant aid to improve flocculation, and
for removing dissolved silica and phosphates.
In construction technology, sodium aluminate is employed to accelerate the solidification of concrete, mainly when
working during frost.
Sodium aluminate is also used in the paper industry, for fire brick production, alumina production and so forth.
Sodium aluminate solutions are intermediates in the production of zeolites.
[8]
References
[1] http:/ / www. commonchemistry.org/ ChemicalDetail.aspx?ref=1302-42-7
[2] http:/ / pubchem. ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/ summary/ summary. cgi?cid=14766
[3] http:/ / chemapps.stolaf. edu/ jmol/ jmol.php?model=O%3D%5BAl-%5D%3DO. %5BNa%2B%5D
[4] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org/ w/ index. php?title=Special:ComparePages& rev1=414397248& page2=Sodium+ aluminate
[5] "Identification and characterisation of three novel compounds in the sodiumaluminiumoxygen system", Marten G. Barker, Paul G. Gadd
and Michael J. Begley, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 1984, 11391146,
[6] Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5
[7] "The Crystal Structure of Hydrated Sodium Aluminate, NaAlO
2
5/4H
2
O, and Its Dehydration Product", James A. Kaduk, Shiyou Pei, Journal
of Solid State Chemistry, 115, 1, 1995, 126139,
[8] Alan Dyer, (1994), Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry, R. Bruce King (ed.), John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-93620-0
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Sodium aluminate Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=607201552 Contributors: Anomalocaris, Axiosaurus, Bryan Derksen, David Berardan, Deryck Chan, Epbr123, Foobar,
Hermann Luyken, LievenBekaert, Magioladitis, Materialscientist, MiPe, Perfecto, PeterBFZ, Physchim62, Stan J Klimas, Thricecube, Velella, Wavelength, Woodyim9691, Xezbeth, Yakuzai, 17
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