Sodium percarbonate

For other uses, see Sodium peroxycarbonate.

Sodium percarbonate or sodium carbonate peroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula 2 Na₂CO₃ · 3 H₂O₂. It is an adduct of sodium carbonate ("soda ash" or "washing soda") and hydrogen peroxide (that is, a perhydrate). It is a colorless, crystalline, hygroscopic, and water-soluble solid.^[3] It is sometimes abbreviated as SPC. It contains 32.5% by weight of hydrogen peroxide.

Sodium percarbonate

Crystal structure at 100 K [1]
Names
IUPAC name sodium carbonate—hydrogen peroxide (2/3)
Other names Sodium carbonate peroxide,[2] sodium carbonate sesquiperhydrate, PCS, SPC, solid hydrogen peroxide, Sodium carbonate hydrogen peroxide, sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate
Identifiers
CAS Number	15630-89-4 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	140471 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.036.082
EC Number	239-707-6
PubChem CID	159762
RTECS number	FG0750000
UNII	Z7G82NV92P Y
UN number	3378
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID3029736
InChI InChI=1S/CH2O4.Na/c2-1(3)5-4;/h4H,(H,2,3);/q;+1/p-1 Y Key: MWNQXXOSWHCCOZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M Y InChI=1S/CH2O4.Na/c2-1(3)5-4;/h4H,(H,2,3);/q;+1/p-1 Key: MWNQXXOSWHCCOZ-REWHXWOFAO Key: MWNQXXOSWHCCOZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M
SMILES [Na+].[O-]C(=O)OO
Properties
Chemical formula	Na2CO3·1.5 H2O2
Molar mass	156.982 g/mol
Appearance	White solid
Solubility in water	150 g/l
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	Irritant, oxidizer
Flash point	Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions	Sodium carbonate Sodium bicarbonate
Other cations	Calcium percarbonate Magnesium percarbonate
Related compounds	Sodium perborate Sodium persulfate Sodium perphosphate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

The product is used in some eco-friendly bleaches and other cleaning products.^[3]

History

Sodium percarbonate was first prepared in 1899 by Ukrainian chemist Sebastian Moiseevich Tanatar (7 October 1849 – 30 November 1917).^[4]

Structure

At room temperature, solid sodium percarbonate has the orthorhombic crystal structure, with the Cmca crystallographic space group. The structure changes to Pbca as the crystals are cooled below about −30 °C.^[1]

Chemistry

Dissolved in water, sodium percarbonate yields a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, sodium cations (Na⁺
), and carbonate (CO²⁻
₃).^[3][5]

2 Na₂CO₃·3 H₂O₂ → 3 H₂O₂ + 4 Na⁺ + 2 CO2−3

Production

Sodium percarbonate is produced industrially by crystallization of a solution of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide, with attention to the pH and concentrations.^[6][1][7] This method is also convenient for the laboratory preparation. Alternatively, dry sodium carbonate may be treated directly with concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution.^[8]

World production capacity of this compound was estimated at several hundred thousand tons for 2004.^[9]

Uses

As an oxidizing agent, sodium percarbonate is an ingredient in a number of home and laundry cleaning products, including non-chlorine bleach products such as Oxyper, OxiClean, Tide laundry detergent,^[3] and Vanish.^[5]

Many commercial products mix a percentage of sodium percarbonate with sodium carbonate. The average "Oxy" product in the supermarket contains 35–40% sodium percarbonate with about 5% active oxygen when titrated.

Sodium percarbonate is also used as a cleaning agent in homebrewing.^[10]

Sodium percarbonate can be used in organic synthesis as a convenient source of anhydrous H₂O₂, in particular in solvents that cannot dissolve the carbonate but can leach the H₂O₂ out of it.^[11] A method for generating trifluoroperacetic acid in situ for use in Baeyer–Villiger oxidations from sodium percarbonate and trifluoroacetic anhydride has been reported; it provides a convenient and cheap approach to this reagent without the need to obtain highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide.^[12][13]