What Is Sodium Formate?
Sodium formate is an inorganic compound formed by the reaction of formic acid and sodium. It is the sodium salt of formic acid.
It appears as a white or colorless crystalline powder with little odor. It dissolves easily in water and methanol.
Sodium formate has reducing properties and is chemically stable, making it easy to handle. When dissolved in water, it becomes slightly alkaline and is useful in neutralization reactions with acids.
Although it is not highly toxic, exposure to its dust or solution can irritate the skin, eyes, or respiratory system. Therefore, protective equipment such as gloves and goggles should be worn when handling it.
Uses of Sodium Formate
Sodium formate is used in various applications due to its chemical characteristics. Major uses include the following:
1. Deicing Agent and Antifreeze
Sodium formate is used as an eco-friendly deicing agent on roads and runways. Compared to traditional agents like calcium chloride and sodium chloride, it is less corrosive and has a smaller impact on plants and soil. This makes it suitable for use in sustainable infrastructure development.
2. Metal Refining and Reduction Reactions
Due to its reducing properties, sodium formate is used in metal refining. It acts as a reducing agent in the recovery of rare metals such as platinum and precious metals like palladium.
3. Hydrogen Carrier
Formic acid and its salt, sodium formate, are gaining attention as safe and eco-friendly hydrogen carriers. They are stable at room temperature and pressure, enabling hydrogen storage and transportation without high pressure or extremely low temperatures. Research is ongoing to use catalysts for efficient hydrogen gas generation.
4. Dyeing Industry and Chemical Synthesis
In the dyeing industry, sodium formate is used to promote reduction reactions of dyes. In chemical synthesis, it serves as a source of carbon monoxide and formic acid and is used in various reactions, especially catalytic and reduction reactions.