Preparation of Sodium acetate (Sodium ethanoate) | CH3COONa
Sodium ethanoate (sodium acetate) is the sodium salt of ethanoic acid (acetic acid). We can prepare sodium acetate from several methodologies. You can prepare sodium acetate very easily in your laboratory and we will study those methods in detail in this tutorial.
Content
- Summary of sodium acetate
- Preparation of Sodium acetate from sodium hydroxide and acetic acid - Industrial method
- Preparation of sodium acetate from ethanol
- How do I know whether sodium acetate is being prepared and sodium acetate was prepared completely?
- Preparing sodium acetate using sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate
- Sodium acetate using Acetic acid and sodium carbonate
- Sodium acetate using Acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate
- Sodium acetate using Acetic acid and sodium
Summary of sodium acetate
Sodium acetate is a white odorless crystalline powder at room temperature and soluble in water. When sodium acetate is dissolved in water, a weak basic aqueous solution is given.
Preparation of Sodium acetate from sodium hydroxide and acetic acid - Industrial method
When you add aqueous sodium hydroxide to acetic acid, an acid base reaction is occurred and sodium acetate (sodium ethanoate) and water are formed as products. This method is used industrially to prepare sodium acetate.
CH3COOH + NaOH → CH3COO-Na+ + H2O
Both, sodium hydroxide and acetic acid are available in the laboratory. So, you can prepare them easily in your lab.
If you do not have acetic acid, you can make acetic acid from ethanol.
Preparation of sodium acetate from ethanol
Ethanol, another common chemical in the laboratory is oxidized to acetic acid by acidic potassium permanganate. As well as, permanganate ion is reduced to manganese +2 ion. So, you have to recover, acetic acid from those solution. Then, you can do the same reaction explained above.
CH3CH2OH + MnO4- → CH3COOH + Mn2+
How do I know whether sodium acetate is being prepared and sodium acetate was prepared completely?
Acetic acid is an acid and it gives a low pH value (below than seven). When sodium acetate is being prepared, pH value is increased because sodium acetate is a basic compound. From that case, we can identify, sodium acetate is being prepared.
Sodium hydroxide and acetic acid reaction is a strong base - weak acid reaction.
Preparing sodium acetate using sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate
Sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate are weak bases. When acetic acid is treated with sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), sodium acetate and water is given as products. In these reaction, carbon dioxide gas is formed as a by-product. This reaction is a weak acid - weak base reaction.
Balanced reaction of acetic acid and sodium carbonate
2CH3COOH + Na2CO3 → 2CH3COO-Na+ + H2O + CO2
Balanced reaction of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate
CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COO-Na+ + H2O + CO2
Preparing sodium acetate using acetic acid and sodium metal
Because acetic acid is a weak acid, there is a possibility of reaction with metals. Therefore, acetic acid reacts with sodium metal and gives sodium acetate and hydrogen gas as products.
Balanced reaction of acetic acid and sodium
CH3COOH + Na → CH3COO-Na+ + H2
Have Questions?
Are there a difference in sodium ethanoate and sodium acetate?
Both names are used to define same chemical.
Propose a procedure to prepare of sodium acetate from ethanaol
As you have studied to prepare sodium acetate from acetic acid (ethanoic acid), you can prepare Sodium acetate from ethanol by two steps. First, you need to prepare acetic acid from ethanol by the reaction of strong oxidizing agents. Prepared acetic acid is separated from the product mixture by applying a chemical seperation process
Is sodium ethanoate a strong base?
Sodium ethanoate is a weak base, not a strong base. Sodium ethanoate completely dissociates to Sodium cation and acetate anion. Sodium cation is stable in water. But, acetate anion is not stable in water and it reacts with water to produce acetic acid. This reaction is reversible because acetic acid again dissociates to acetate ion. Due to this instability of acetate ion, Sodium acetate is defined as a weak base.
Will CH3COOH + NaOH reaction emit a gas?
Acetic acid is weak acid and sodium hydroxide is a strong base. Therefore, reaction between CH3COOH and NaOH will give a salt and water as products. Therefore, no gas product is produced.
Is sodium ethanoate and sodium acetate same?
Yes. Both sodium ethanoate and sodium acetate represents CH3COO-Na+. Sodium ethanoate is the name given by IUPAC nomenclature. Sodium acetate is the general name used for CH3COO-Na+.