Sodium sulfide - Na₂S

What is Sodium sulfide?

Sodium sulfide is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula Na₂S that has attained an important position in the organic chemical industry. It is a strong alkaline solution when exposed to moist air it smells like rotten eggs. Although the solid state is yellow in colour in solution it is colourless. Usually, it comes in the grades as “sodium sulfide flakes”.

IUPAC name – disodium sulfanide

Table of Content

• Structure of Sodium Sulfide
• Chemical data of Sodium Sulfide
• Physical properties of Sodium Sulfide
• Chemical Properties of Sodium Sulfide
• Uses of Sodium Sulfide
• FAQs

Sodium sulfide Structure – Na₂S

Chemical Data on Sodium Sulfide-Na₂S

Physical Properties of Sodium sulfide – Na₂S

Chemical Properties of Sodium sulfide – Na₂S

• • Sodium sulfide dissolves in water to form its corresponding ions. The reaction is as below.

Na₂S + H₂O → 2Na⁺ + HS^– + OH^–

• • It can be easily oxidised when heated it forms sodium carbonate and sulfur dioxide.

2Na₂S + 3O₂ + 2CO₂ → 2Na₂CO₃ + 2SO₂

• • It reacts with sulphur forming polysulfides.

2Na₂S + S₈ → 2Na₂S₅

Uses of Sodium sulfide – Na₂S

• Used in water treatment as an oxygen scavenger agent and also used as a metal precipitant.
• Used in the photographic industry to protect developer solutions from oxidation in textile industry as a bleaching agent.
• Utilized in the production of elastic synthetic materials, sulfur colours and other substances.
• Used primarily in pulp and paper industry in the craft process. It increases the selectivity of the sulfate cooking process and increase the rate of delignification.