To obtain sodium acetate you just need a few ingredients that are easily available in the kitchen. It is fun and practical to use and you can use it to make "hot ice" and / or hot ice sculptures. You can also put it in some bags to use as reusable hand warmers. It is quite simple and inexpensive to prepare and requires only vinegar, baking soda and a few containers.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare a Sodium Acetate Solution
Step 1. Pour the vinegar into a bowl
Vinegar is a liquid composed mainly of water and 3-7% acetic acid. Acetic acid, in turn, is a necessary ingredient in the formation of sodium acetate. Pour 500 ml into a bowl.
Always wear protective goggles and gloves when handling acidic and basic substances, such as vinegar and baking soda
Step 2. Add the baking soda
Bicarbonate is a sodium salt of carbonic acid, therefore it provides the sodium needed to form sodium acetate. Take about 35 grams (7 teaspoons) and slowly pour it into 500 ml of vinegar.
Step 3. Mix
As you pour the bicarbonate into the vinegar you will see that the solution begins to produce bubbles and foam, due to the formation of carbon dioxide during the reaction. Use a stirring rod or wooden spoon to turn it over and keep it from leaking out of the bowl.
The chemical reaction of vinegar with bicarbonate is as follows: NaHCO3 + CH3COOH - CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O
Method 2 of 3: Boil the Excess Water
Step 1. Transfer the solution to a saucepan
Any pan you use for cooking will do. Transfer only the liquid solution minding Not pour out the solid residues of bicarbonate.
Otherwise the solution will consist mainly of solid bicarbonate if you add it in excessive quantities. The waste will remain in solid (but wet) form
Step 2. Bring to a boil
Put the pot on the stove and simmer the mixture. Do not raise the heat too high, otherwise you will have difficulty checking the consistency of the solution and risk boiling it excessively. You can also use a Bunsen burner with cylinder or a hot plate to do this.
Step 3. Check the solution
Let it simmer so you can keep it under control. If too many bubbles rise that prevent you from looking at the surface, turn the heat down. You need to cook it slowly until you see a solid white substance forming inside or on the surface. As soon as you notice it, immediately remove the pot from the heat and stir the solution until the solid part dissolves.
Step 4. Wait for it to cool down
Once cooled, the sodium acetate dissolved in the hot water will precipitate. It will take you about half an hour before you notice the formation of sodium acetate crystals. Once produced, you can remove excess water.
- If they do not form, it is possible that the solution is supersaturated. It means there is more sodium acetate present than the amount of water can dissolve. Introduce a small piece of metal (even a sheet of aluminum foil is fine) to begin crystallization.
- If you want to build a hot ice sculpture you have to pour the solution into the mold a little at a time. This way you should catalyze the sodium acetate in such a way that it precipitates and allows you to form a solid sculpture.
Step 5. Scrape the cooled solution to get the crystals
It will harden by adhering to the container. For best results, use a razor. Collect the flakes in an airtight container (a zip-lock bag is sufficient).
If you want to make a hand warmer, place the crystals in an airtight plastic bag. You can dissolve them by putting the bag in boiling water. Leave them in liquid form until you need to warm your hands, then insert a crystal or piece of metal into the container to catalyze the reaction back to solid state
Method 3 of 3: Evaporating the Excess Water
Step 1. Pour the solution into an evaporation dish
This vessel will allow the water and carbon dioxide to evaporate slowly and detach from the crystals. It is a slower method than boiling, but not impractical. Do not transfer the solid bicarbonate particles into the evaporating dish.
A wide or long, shallow container, such as a glass pan, will work well. Water takes much longer to evaporate if placed in a large container
Step 2. Give the contaminants time to evaporate
The evaporation process will take several days, under normal conditions (at room temperature and regular atmospheric pressure). If you want to speed up the process, place the container under a heat lamp. As the water evaporates, the sodium acetate crystals will precipitate separating from the solution and adhere to the bottom.
Step 3. Collect the crystals
Once the water has evaporated, the crystals will stick to the evaporating dish. Use a razor to scrape them and store them in an airtight container, such as a ziplock bag.
