How can the purity of Trihydrate Sodium Salt be determined?

Sep 16, 2025

Determining the purity of Trihydrate Sodium Salt, also known as Sodium Acetate Trihydrate with the Formula:C2H3NaO2.3H2O and CAS NO:6131-90-4, is crucial for both suppliers and users. As a supplier of Trihydrate Sodium Salt, I understand the importance of providing high - quality products. In this blog, I'll share several methods for determining the purity of this compound.

1. Titration Method

Titration is one of the most common and reliable methods for determining the purity of Trihydrate Sodium Salt. This method is based on a chemical reaction between the sample and a standard solution.

Principle

Sodium acetate trihydrate can react with a strong acid, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl). The reaction equation is as follows:
CH₃COONa·3H₂O + HCl → CH₃COOH+ NaCl + 3H₂O

By titrating the sodium acetate trihydrate sample with a standard HCl solution, we can determine the amount of sodium acetate trihydrate in the sample according to the stoichiometry of the reaction.

Procedure

  1. Prepare the sample: Weigh an appropriate amount of the Trihydrate Sodium Salt sample accurately. Dissolve it in distilled water to make a solution.
  2. Prepare the standard solution: Prepare a standard hydrochloric acid solution with a known concentration.
  3. Titration: Add a few drops of an appropriate indicator, such as methyl orange, to the sample solution. Then, titrate the sample solution with the standard HCl solution until the color of the indicator changes, indicating the end - point of the reaction.
  4. Calculation: Calculate the purity of the Trihydrate Sodium Salt according to the volume of the standard HCl solution used and its concentration, as well as the mass of the sample.

The purity can be calculated using the following formula:
Purity (%)=(n₁/n₂)×100%
where n₁ is the actual amount of sodium acetate trihydrate in the sample calculated from the titration results, and n₂ is the theoretical amount of sodium acetate trihydrate assuming the sample is pure.

2. Gravimetric Analysis

Gravimetric analysis is another important method for determining the purity of Trihydrate Sodium Salt.

Principle

In gravimetric analysis of sodium acetate trihydrate, we can convert the sodium acetate in the sample into a precipitate with a known composition through a series of chemical reactions. Then, by weighing the precipitate, we can calculate the amount of sodium acetate trihydrate in the sample.

Sodium Acetate TrihydrateCAS NO:6131-90-4

For example, we can react sodium acetate with a reagent to form a precipitate of a metal acetate. After filtering, washing, and drying the precipitate, we weigh it.

Procedure

  1. Sample preparation: Weigh a certain amount of the Trihydrate Sodium Salt sample and dissolve it in an appropriate solvent.
  2. Precipitation reaction: Add a suitable precipitating agent to the sample solution to form a precipitate. For example, we can add silver nitrate (AgNO₃) solution to the sodium acetate solution to form silver acetate (AgCH₃COO) precipitate.
  3. Filtration and washing: Filter the precipitate and wash it with distilled water to remove impurities.
  4. Drying and weighing: Dry the precipitate in an oven at a suitable temperature until its mass remains constant. Then, weigh the precipitate accurately.
  5. Calculation: Calculate the amount of sodium acetate trihydrate in the sample according to the mass of the precipitate and the stoichiometry of the reaction. Finally, calculate the purity of the sample.

3. Spectroscopic Methods

Spectroscopic methods, such as infrared spectroscopy (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), can also be used to determine the purity of Trihydrate Sodium Salt.

Infrared Spectroscopy (IR)

  • Principle: Different chemical bonds in a molecule absorb infrared light at specific frequencies. By analyzing the infrared absorption spectrum of a sample, we can identify the functional groups in the molecule and detect the presence of impurities.
  • Procedure: Prepare a thin film or pellet of the Trihydrate Sodium Salt sample. Then, measure its infrared absorption spectrum using an infrared spectrometer. Compare the obtained spectrum with the standard spectrum of pure sodium acetate trihydrate. Any additional peaks in the spectrum may indicate the presence of impurities.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)

  • Principle: NMR spectroscopy is based on the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei. Different chemical environments of nuclei in a molecule will cause different NMR signals. By analyzing the NMR spectrum of a sample, we can determine the molecular structure and purity of the sample.
  • Procedure: Dissolve the Trihydrate Sodium Salt sample in a suitable deuterated solvent. Measure its NMR spectrum using an NMR spectrometer. Analyze the peaks in the spectrum to determine the purity of the sample. Any abnormal peaks may indicate the presence of impurities.

4. Chromatographic Methods

Chromatographic methods, such as high - performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC), can also be used for purity determination.

High - Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

  • Principle: HPLC separates different components in a sample based on their different interactions with the stationary phase and the mobile phase. By comparing the retention time and peak area of the sample with those of a standard sample, we can determine the purity of the Trihydrate Sodium Salt.
  • Procedure: Dissolve the sample in a suitable solvent. Inject the sample solution into the HPLC system. The mobile phase will carry the sample through the column, and different components will be separated according to their interactions with the stationary phase. Detect the separated components using a detector, such as a UV - Vis detector. Calculate the purity of the sample based on the peak area of the target component.

Gas Chromatography (GC)

  • Principle: GC separates volatile components in a sample based on their different volatilities and interactions with the stationary phase. Although sodium acetate trihydrate is not very volatile, it can be derivatized to make it suitable for GC analysis.
  • Procedure: Derivatize the Trihydrate Sodium Salt sample to make it volatile. Inject the derivatized sample into the GC system. The carrier gas will carry the sample through the column, and different components will be separated. Detect the separated components using a detector, such as a flame ionization detector (FID). Calculate the purity of the sample based on the peak area of the target component.

Importance of Purity Determination

As a supplier of Trihydrate Sodium Salt, ensuring the purity of our products is of utmost importance. High - purity Trihydrate Sodium Salt has many applications in various industries.

In the food industry, it is used as a food additive, such as a flavoring agent and a pH regulator. High - purity sodium acetate trihydrate can ensure the safety and quality of food products.

In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used in the production of some drugs. The purity of sodium acetate trihydrate directly affects the efficacy and safety of the drugs.

In the chemical industry, it is used as a raw material for the synthesis of other chemicals. High - purity sodium acetate trihydrate can improve the quality and yield of the synthesized products.

Conclusion

Determining the purity of Trihydrate Sodium Salt is a complex but necessary process. By using methods such as titration, gravimetric analysis, spectroscopic methods, and chromatographic methods, we can accurately determine the purity of our products.

As a reliable supplier of Trihydrate Sodium Salt, we are committed to providing high - quality products with high purity. If you are interested in our Trihydrate Sodium Salt products or have any questions about purity determination, please feel free to contact us for procurement and further discussions.

References

  1. Harris, D. C. (2015). Quantitative Chemical Analysis. W. H. Freeman and Company.
  2. Skoog, D. A., West, D. M., Holler, F. J., & Crouch, S. R. (2013). Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry. Cengage Learning.
  3. Pavia, D. L., Lampman, G. M., Kriz, G. S., & Engel, R. G. (2015). Introduction to Spectroscopy. Brooks/Cole.