Sodium sulfate is one of the most important chemicals in the world. It occurs naturally in the form of the mineral thenardite, and is also manufactured by chemical processes. It is usually produced as a by-product of hydrochloric acid production. It is also produced by the Mannheim and Hargreaves processes, using sulfuric acid or sulfur dioxide.

It is a hygroscopic substance and absorbs moisture, which converts to the hydrated form on heating. It is commonly used in the manufacture of detergents, soaps and glasses.

At normal temperatures, it has a boiling point of 1,429 degC and a melting point of 884 degC. It is soluble in water, but is practically insoluble in ethanol and many organic solvents.

Solubility at a given temperature is related to the van’t Hoff factor, which gives the concentration of sodium ions and sulfate anion in solution. For the anhydrous form, the concentration of sodium ions is 19 g/l at 20 degC and the concentration of sulfate anion is 44 g/l at the same temperature.

This hygroscopic substance has a density of 2.664 g/cm3 for the anhydrous salt and 1.464 g/cm3 for the decahydrate. It is a white, crystalline solid and is ACS grade Reagent.

The boiling point of anhydrous sodium sulfate is 1,429 degC at normal temperature. It is a very common ingredient in pharmaceuticals as Glauber’s salt.

Sodium sulfate is an ACS grade Reagent that meets the toughest regulatory standards for purity and quality. It is available in most volumes and can be shipped immediately.