Sodium acetate trihydrate is the trihydrate sodium salt of acetic acid. It occurs as colorless, transparent crystals or as a granular, crystalline or white powder.

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Specification:

Sodium acetate trihydrate is used in various applications. It is used as a buffer of a pH range in between to 4.0 to 6.0. It is also used in the purification and precipitation of nucleic acids and in protein crystallization. It is used as a mordant dyeing, as a pickling agent in chrome tanning, as a neutralizer in waste streams containing sulfuric acid, in the textile industry and as a photoresist while using aniline dyes. It plays an important role to retard vulcanization of chloroprene in synthetic rubber production. It is a precursor to prepare ester from alkyl halide. Sodium acetate trihydrate is also used in heating pads, hand warmers, and hot ice. A supersaturated solution of sodium acetate in water is supplied with a device to initiate crystallization, a process that release substantial heat. Other applications are in photography, as an additive to food, in purification of glucose, in preservation of meat, in tanning, and as a dehydrating agent. In analytical chemistry it is used to prepare buffer solution.

Sodium acetate trihydrate is widely used in cosmetics, foods and pharmaceutical formulations, and is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant material.