Sodium hydroxide

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Sodium hydroxide

Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Sodium hydroxide[3]
Systematic IUPAC name
Sodium oxidanide[4]
Other names
Caustic soda

Lye[1][2]
Ascarite
White caustic

Sodium hydrate[3]
Identifiers
 1310-73-2
CAS Number
 Interactive image
3D model (JSmol)
 CHEBI:32145
ChEBI
 14114
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.013.805
EC Number 215-185-5
E number E524 (acidity regulators, ...)
Gmelin Reference 68430
 D01169
KEGG
MeSH Sodium+Hydroxide
 14798
PubChem CID
RTECS number WB4900000
 55X04QC32I
UNII
UN number 1824
InChI[show]
SMILES[show]
Properties
Chemical formula NaOH
Molar mass 39.9971 g mol−1
Appearance White, waxy, opaque crystals
Odor odorless
Density 2.13 g/cm3
Melting point 318 °C (604 °F; 591 K)
Boiling point 1,388 °C (2,530 °F; 1,661 K)
418 g/L (0 °C)
Solubility in water 1110 g/L (20 °C)
3370 g/L (100 °C)
soluble in glycerol
negligible in ammonia
Solubility insoluble in ether
slowly soluble in propylene
glycol
Solubility in
238 g/L
methanol
Solubility in ethanol <<139 g/L
Vapor pressure <2.4 kPa (at 20 °C)
-0.56 (NaOH(aq) = Na+ + OH–)
Basicity (pKb) [5]

Magnetic
−16.0·10−6 cm3/mol
susceptibility (χ)
Refractive index (nD) 1.3576
Thermochemistry
Specific
59.66 J/mol K
heat capacity (C)
Std molar
64 J·mol−1·K−1[6]
entropy (So298)
Std enthalpy of
−427 kJ·mol−1[6]
formation (ΔfHo298)
Gibbs free energy -380.7 kJ/mol
(ΔfG˚)
Hazards
Safety data sheet External MSDS

GHS pictograms

GHS signal word Danger

GHS hazard
H290, H314
statements
GHS precautionary
P280, P305+351+338, P310
statements

NFPA 704
0
3
1
ALK
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median 40 mg/kg (mouse,
dose) intraperitoneal)[8]
LDLo (lowest
500 mg/kg (rabbit, oral)[9]
published)
US health exposure limits (NIOSH):
PEL (Permissible) TWA 2 mg/m3[7]
REL
C 2 mg/m3[7]
(Recommended)
IDLH (Immediate
10 mg/m3[7]
danger)
Related compounds
Other anions Sodium hydrosulfide
Caesium hydroxide

Other cations Lithium hydroxide

Potassium hydroxide
Rubidium hydroxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F],
100 kPa).
verify (what is ?)
Infobox references

Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda,[1][2] is an inorganic compound with
the formula NaOH. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations Na+
and hydroxide anions OH−
.

Sodium hydroxide is a highly caustic base and alkali that decomposes proteins at ordinary
ambient temperatures and may cause severe chemical burns. It is highly soluble in water, and
readily absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide from the air. It forms a series of hydrates
NaOH·nH
[10]
2O. The monohydrate NaOH·H
2O crystallizes from water solutions between 12.3 and 61.8 °C. The commercially available

"sodium hydroxide" is often this monohydrate, and published data may refer to it instead of
the anhydrous compound. As one of the simplest hydroxides, it is frequently utilized
alongside neutral water and acidic hydrochloric acid to demonstrate the pH scale to chemistry
students.[11]

Sodium hydroxide is used in many industries: in the manufacture of pulp and paper, textiles,
drinking water, soaps and detergents, and as a drain cleaner. Worldwide production in 2004
was approximately 60 million tonnes, while demand was 51 million tonnes.[12]