Contents

Sodium sulfide

Chemical compound

Sodium sulfide

Names
Other names Disodium sulfide
Identifiers
CAS Number	1313-82-2 Y 1313-83-3 (pentahydrate) Y 1313-84-4 (nonahydrate) Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:76208 N
ChemSpider	14120 N
ECHA InfoCard	100.013.829
EC Number	215-211-5
PubChem CID	237873
RTECS number	WE1905000
UNII	YGR27ZW0Y7 Y 6U55N59SZ2 (pentahydrate) Y C02T02993U (nonahydrate) Y
UN number	1385 (anhydrous) 1849 (hydrate)
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID0029636
InChI InChI=1S/2Na.S/q2*+1;-2 N Key: GRVFOGOEDUUMBP-UHFFFAOYSA-N N InChI=1/2Na.S/q2*+1;-2 Key: GRVFOGOEDUUMBP-UHFFFAOYAP
SMILES [Na+].[Na+].[S-2]
Properties
Chemical formula	Na2S
Molar mass	78.0452 g/mol (anhydrous) 240.18 g/mol (nonahydrate)
Appearance	colorless, hygroscopic solid
Odor	none
Density	1.856 g/cm3 (anhydrous) 1.58 g/cm3 (pentahydrate) 1.43 g/cm3 (nonohydrate)
Melting point	1,176 °C (2,149 °F; 1,449 K) (anhydrous) 100 °C (pentahydrate) 50 °C (nonahydrate)
Solubility in water	12.4 g/100 mL (0 °C) 18.6 g/100 mL (20 °C) 39 g/100 mL (50 °C) (hydrolyses)
Solubility	insoluble in ether slightly soluble in alcohol[1]
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−39.0·10−6cm3/mol
Structure
Crystal structure	Antifluorite (cubic), cF12
Space group	Fm3m, No. 225
Coordination geometry	Tetrahedral (Na+); cubic (S2−)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H302, H311, H314, H400
Precautionary statements	P260, P264, P270, P273, P280, P301+P312, P301+P330+P331, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P312, P321, P322, P330, P361, P363, P391, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	3 1 1
Autoignition temperature	> 480 °C (896 °F; 753 K)
Safety data sheet (SDS)	ICSC 1047
Related compounds
Other anions	Sodium oxide Sodium selenide Sodium telluride Sodium polonide
Other cations	Lithium sulfide Potassium sulfide Rubidium sulfide Caesium sulfide
Related compounds	Sodium hydrosulfide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Sodium sulfide is a chemical compound with the formula Na₂S, or more commonly its hydrateNa₂S·9H₂O. Both the anhydrous and the hydrated salts in pure crystalline form are colorless solids, although technical grades of sodium sulfide are generally yellow to brick red owing to the presence of polysulfides and commonly supplied as a crystalline mass, in flake form, or as a fused solid. They are water-soluble, giving strongly alkaline solutions. When exposed to moist air, Na₂S and its hydrates emit hydrogen sulfide, an extremely toxic, flammable and corrosive gas which smells like rotten eggs.

Some commercial samples are specified as Na₂S·xH₂O, where a weight percentage of Na₂S is specified. Commonly available grades have around 60% Na₂S by weight, which means that x is around 3. These grades of sodium sulfide are often marketed as 'sodium sulfide flakes'.

Structure[edit]

Na₂S adopts the antifluorite structure,^[2][3] which means that the Na⁺ centers occupy sites of the fluoride in the CaF₂ framework, and the larger S²⁻ occupy the sites for Ca²⁺.

Production[edit]

Industrially Na₂S is produced by carbothermic reductionofsodium sulfate often using coal:^[4]

Na₂SO₄ + 2 C → Na₂S + 2 CO₂

In the laboratory, the salt can be prepared by reduction of sulfur with sodium in anhydrous ammonia, or by sodium in dry THF with a catalytic amount of naphthalene (forming sodium naphthalenide):^[5]

2 Na + S → Na₂S

Reactions with inorganic reagents[edit]

The sulfide ion in sulfide salts such as sodium sulfide can incorporate a proton into the salt by protonation:

S²⁻
+  H⁺ → SH⁻

Because of this capture of the proton ( H⁺), sodium sulfide has basic character. Sodium sulfide is strongly basic, able to absorb two protons. Its conjugate acidissodium hydrosulfide (SH⁻
). An aqueous solution contains a significant portion of sulfide ions that are singly protonated.

S²⁻
+ H₂O ${\displaystyle {\ce {<=>>}}}$ SH⁻
+  OH⁻

SH⁻
+ H₂O ${\displaystyle {\ce {<<=>}}}$ H₂S +  OH⁻

Sodium sulfide is unstable in the presence of water due to the gradual loss of hydrogen sulfide into the atmosphere.

When heated with oxygen and carbon dioxide, sodium sulfide can oxidize to sodium carbonate and sulfur dioxide:

2 Na₂S + 3 O₂ + 2 CO₂ → 2 Na₂CO₃ + 2 SO₂

Oxidation with hydrogen peroxide gives sodium sulfate:^[6]

Na₂S + 4 H₂O₂ → 4 H₂O + Na₂SO₄

Upon treatment with sulfur, polysulfides are formed:

2 Na₂S + S₈ → 2 Na₂S₅

Uses[edit]

Sodium sulfide is primarily used in the kraft process in the pulp and paper industry.

It is used in water treatment as an oxygen scavenger agent and also as a metals precipitant; in chemical photography for toning black and white photographs; in the textile industry as a bleaching agent, for desulfurising and as a dechlorinating agent; and in the leather trade for the sulfitisation of tanning extracts. It is used in chemical manufacturing as a sulfonation and sulfomethylation agent. It is used in the production of rubber chemicals, sulfur dyes and other chemical compounds. It is used in other applications including ore flotation, oil recovery, making dyes, and detergent. It is also used during leather processing, as an unhairing agent in the liming operation.

Reagent in organic chemistry[edit]

Alkylation of sodium sulfide give thioethers:

Na₂S + 2 RX → R₂S + 2 NaX

Even aryl halides participate in this reaction.^[7] By a broadly similar process sodium sulfide can react with alkenes in the thiol-ene reaction to give thioethers. Sodium sulfide can be used as nucleophileinSandmeyer type reactions.^[8] Sodium sulfide reduces 1,3-dinitrobenzene derivatives to the 3-nitroanilines.^[9] Aqueous solution of sodium sulfide can be refluxed with nitro carrying azo dyes dissolved in dioxane and ethanol to selectively reduce the nitro groupstoamine; while other reducible groups, e.g. azo group, remain intact.^[10] Sulfide has also been employed in photocatalytic applications.^[11]

Sodium sulfide is the active ingredient in Dr. Scholl's ingrown toenail pain treatment.

Safety[edit]

Like sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide is strongly alkaline and can cause chemical burns. Acids react with it to rapidly produce hydrogen sulfide, which is highly toxic.

References[edit]