Glauber’s Salt: Its Chemistry and Uses

by Yuvi K - January 7, 2024

Glauber’s Salt: Chemistry and Uses

Glauber’s salt, or Sodium Sulphate Decahydrate (सोडियम सल्फेट दसहैड्रेट, sodiyam salphait dasheydreet) has been used since the 1650s for multiple industrial, commercial and medical uses. It has the chemical formula Na₂SO₄•10H₂O and is composed of two parts Sodium Sulphate and 10 parts H2O. Glauber’s salt is produced using mining and chemistry processes.

History of Glauber’s Salt

Glauber’s salt was first produced in the late 1650s by Johann Rudolf Glauber, although it was initially found in crude or crude-salt formation in some locales. Glauber was a German alchemist and chemist and is credited as the first to produce Glauber’s salt in its form which is widely used today. He is also responsible for introducing it into the medical and commercial world.

Manufacturing Process of Glauber’s Salt

Glauber’s salt is manufactured through a variety of industrial processes. The main process involves mining crude-salt formations, extracting the salt, and then processing it into its constituent parts. It is first ground in a mill and then treated with sodium carbonate to form a paste.

The paste is then washed with water and dried to form a coarse salt with added minerals such as iron and magnesium, which act as impurities. The salt is then re-ground and washed to remove the impurities before it is put through a vacuum dehydration process that changes it into Glauber’s salt.

Chemical Properties of Glauber’s Salt

Glauber’s salt is composed of two parts sodium sulphate, Na₂SO₄ and 10 parts H2O. It is an anhydrous white, crystalline compound with a melting point of 884˚C and a density of 2.53 g/cm³. Glauber’s salt is highly soluble in water and has a pleasant taste. It is often used in medicine and industry because of its strong hygroscopicity, meaning it can absorb and retain moisture from the atmosphere.

Uses of Glauber’s Salt

Glauber’s salt can be used for a variety of industrial, commercial and medical purposes.

Industrial Uses

Glauber’s salt is commonly used in industries such as dyeing and printing for its acid-neutralizing properties. It is also used in the making of soaps, glass, ceramic, and paper industries. It is used to control the pH of water in irrigation and water-treatment applications.

Commercial Uses

Glauber’s salt is also used in the commercial food industry as an additive and preservative. It can also be used in the pet industry as an electrolyte supplement for dogs and cats. It can be used as a fertilizer due to its hygroscopic properties.

Medical Uses

Glauber’s salt has many medical applications. It is used in medicine as a laxative, diuretic to increase urination, expectorant to clear phlegm and mucus from the lungs and an antacid to relieve gastrointestinal problems. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine as a laxative, diuretic and antacid.

Summary

Glauber’s salt is an important and useful compound that has multiple industrial, commercial and medical uses. It is composed of two parts sodium sulphate and 10 parts H2O and has numerous chemical properties that make it useful. Glauber’s salt is used extensively in industries and in the commercial food industry.

It is also used in medicine as a laxative, diuretic, expectorant and antacid. Glauber’s Salt is a versatile and valuable compound that is used in many applications.