Trisodium phosphate, with the chemical formula Na₃PO₄, is an inorganic compound, commonly found in the form of anhydrous and various hydrates (such as dodecahydrate Na₃PO₄·12H₂O).
Basic properties：
- Appearance: White crystals or powder, easily soluble in water, the aqueous solution is strongly alkaline.
- Solubility: easily soluble in water, insoluble in ethanol.
- pH value: The pH of 1% aqueous solution is about 12.
Main Application：
- Food industry: used as quality improver, emulsifier, buffer, etc., for processing meat, cheese and other products.
- Cleaner: used in detergents and cleaning agents as water softeners and detergents.
- Water treatment: used as water softeners and corrosion inhibitors to prevent boiler scale.
- Laboratory: commonly used reagents for buffer solution preparation and chemical analysis.
- Others: also used in textile, papermaking, metal processing and other industries.
Preparation method：
It is mainly produced by the reaction of phosphoric acid with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate. The reaction is as follows:
- H₃PO₄ + 3NaOH → Na₃PO₄ + 3H₂O
- H₃PO₄ + 1.5Na₂CO₃ → Na₃PO₄ + 1.5CO₂ + 1.5H₂O
Safety precautions：
- Inhalation: May irritate the respiratory tract, so please operate in a well-ventilated place.
- Contact: May irritate the skin and eyes, so please wear protective equipment when operating.
- Ingestion: Ingestion of large amounts may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, so please avoid accidental ingestion.
Storage：
It should be stored in a cool, dry, ventilated place, away from acids and flammable materials.
Summary：
Trisodium phosphate is widely used in food, detergents, water treatment and other fields. When using it, attention should be paid to safe operation and storage conditions.