Sodium pyrosulfate is an

inorganic compound An inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds⁠that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as ''inorganic chemistry''. Inorgan ...

with the

chemical formula A chemical formula is a way of presenting information about the chemical proportions of atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound or molecule, using chemical element symbols, numbers, and sometimes also other symbols, such as pare ...

of Na₂S₂O₇. It is a colorless salt. It hydrolyses in water to form sodium bisulfate with a chemical formula of NaHSO4 which has a pH of around 1.

Preparation

Sodium pyrosulfate is obtained by heating

sodium bisulfate Sodium bisulfate, also known as sodium hydrogen sulfate, is the sodium salt of the bisulfate anion, with the molecular formula NaHSO4. Sodium bisulfate is an acid salt formed by partial neutralization of sulfuric acid by an equivalent of sodiu ...

to 280 °C (536 °F) : 2 NaHSO₄ → Na₂S₂O₇ + H₂O Temperatures above 460 °C further

decompose Decomposition is the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, water, simple sugars and mineral salts. The process is a part of the nutrient cycle and is essen ...

the compound, producing

sodium sulfate Sodium sulfate (also known as sodium sulphate or sulfate of soda) is the inorganic compound with formula Na2SO4 as well as several related hydrates. All forms are white solids that are highly soluble in water. With an annual production of 6 mill ...

and

sulfur trioxide Sulfur trioxide (alternative spelling sulphur trioxide) is the chemical compound with the formula SO3. It has been described as "unquestionably the most conomicallyimportant sulfur oxide". It is prepared on an industrial scale as a precursor to ...

: : Na₂S₂O₇ → Na₂SO₄ + SO₃

Applications

Sodium pyrosulfate was used in

analytical chemistry Analytical skill, Analytical chemistry studies and uses instruments and methods to Separation process, separate, identify, and Quantification (science), quantify matter. In practice, separation, identification or quantification may constitute t ...

. Samples are fused with sodium pyrosulfate to ensure complete dissolution before a quantitative analysis.

References

{{Sodium compounds Sodium compounds Pyrosulfates

Preparation

Applications

See also

References