Sodium aluminate CAS 234-391-6

Sodium aluminate, with the chemical formula NaAlO2, is a white crystalline powder that is highly hygroscopic and readily soluble in water but insoluble in ethanol. Its aqueous solution is alkaline, but it undergoes hydrolysis in water, generating aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). In fact, sodium aluminate (NaAlO2) is a shortened form of sodium tetrahydroxy aluminate (Na[Al(OH)4]). Its actual composition structure is rather complex. In aqueous solution, it exists in the form of [Al(OH)4]-, etc., but it is usually written in the form of NaAlO2. In fact, in the molten state, it mostly exists in the form of AlO2-. NaAlO2 is an ionic compound composed of sodium ions and aluminate ions. Generally, it is also achieved through the reaction of aluminum with sodium hydroxide solution, but the reaction conditions and subsequent treatments are different. For instance, the reaction takes place at a higher temperature and in a sodium hydroxide solution of a specific concentration, followed by processes such as concentration and crystallization to obtain sodium aluminate.