Sodium Hydroxide

Basic Information

Name: Sodium Hydroxide

CAS No: Sodium hydroxide [1310-73-2]

Functional Categories

Alkalizing agent Buffering agent

1. Nonproprietary Names

BP: Sodium Hydroxide JP: Sodium Hydroxide PhEur: Sodium Hydroxide USP-NF: Sodium Hydroxide

2. Synonyms

Caustic soda; E524; lye; natrii hydroxidum; soda lye; sodium hydrate.

3. Chemical Name & CAS Registry

Sodium hydroxide [1310-73-2]

4. Empirical Formula & Molecular Weight

NaOH 40.00

5. Structural Formula

See Section 4.

6. Applications

Sodium hydroxide is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations to adjust the pH of solutions.(1) It can also be used to react with weak acids to form salts

7. Description

Sodium hydroxide occurs as a white or nearly white fused mass. It is available in small pellets, flakes, sticks, and other shapes or forms. It is hard and brittle and shows a crystalline fracture. Sodium hydroxide is very deliquescent and on exposure to air it rapidly absorbs carbon dioxide and water.

8. Pharmacopeial Specifications

See Table I