Characteristic

 

Sodium chlorite (NaClO₂) is a chemical compound used in the manufacturing of paper and as a disinfectant.

Chemical formula:NaClO₂

Molar mass: 90.442 g/mol (anhydrous);144.487 g/mol (trihydrate)

Appearance: white solid

Odor: odorless

Density :2.468 g/cm³, solid

Melting point: anhydrous decomposes at 180–200 °C;trihydrate decomposes at 38 °C

Solubility in water:75.8 g/100 mL (25 °C);122 g/100 mL (60 °C)

Solubility: slightly soluble in methanol, ethanol

Acidity (pKa): 10^-11

Crystal structure:monoclinic

 

Application

 

Sodium chlorite is used in the in situ generation of chlorine dioxide for stripping of textiles, bleaching, pulp and paper industries. It acts as a disinfectant in water treatment plant and as a preservative in eye drops. It is also used in contact lens cleaning solution and for sanitizing air ducts. It is associated with zinc chloride and used as a component in therapeutic rinses, toothpastes, mouth sprays and gels. It is utilized for the synthesis of 4-oxo-2-alkenoic acids from alkyl furans. Further, it is involved as a reagent in Pinnick oxidation reaction to prepare carboxylic acid from aldehydes.