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Sodium sulfate

Sodium sulfate is a white crystalline anhydrous solid with the chemical formula Na2SO4. It is found in thenardite mineral. It is also found in Glauber's salt. Major production of sodium sulfate is obtained from mirabilite, a natural mineral and sodium sulfate is obtained as a byproduct of several chemical reactions.

Sodium sulfate is one of the important commercial chemicals, which has destruction power. When this salt grows in the holes in stones, it accumulates high pressure resulting in cracks on the surface. The kraft process to manufacture of paper pulps uses sodium sulfate. Detergents also contain some percentage of sodium sulfate.

In the 18th century, Glauber's salt was used in places where sodium sulfate was needed to manufacture soda ash. When the demand for this soda ash increased, the productivity of sodium sulfate was also need to be increased. This led to the evolution of Leblanc process which produces sodium sulfate as an intermediate product in the manufacture of soda ash.

Sodium sulfate is a stable product that does not oxidize or reduce at normal temperatures. Only at high temperatures, sodium sulfate can be converted into sodium sulphide. When sodium sulfate is treated with sulphuric acid, the acid salt called sodium bisulphate is produced.

Sodium sulfate is used in the manufacture of glass as a fining agent. Small air bubbles from molten glass are removed with sodium sulfate. For deep and even penetration of dyes, sodium sulfate is widely used in the textile industry. Laboratory uses of sodium sulfate include use of the salt as a drying agent.
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