Description
Di Sodium Hydrogen Ortho Phosphate, also known as Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate or Sodium Phosphate Dibasic, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na2HPO4. It commonly occurs in anhydrous or hydrated forms (dihydrate, heptahydrate, dodecahydrate) as a white crystalline powder that is odorless and hygroscopic. Its molecular weight is approximately 141.96 g/mol for anhydrous and about 177.99 g/mol for the dihydrate form.
This compound is highly soluble in water and forms a mildly basic solution with a pH typically between 8.0 and 11.0. It is produced industrially by neutralizing phosphoric acid with sodium hydroxide. The salt is widely used as a buffering agent in pharmaceuticals and food products, an emulsifier and stabilizer in processed foods and dairy, in water treatment for pH control and softening, and as a reagent in laboratory analytical procedures.
Typical physicochemical properties include:
Appearance: White crystalline powder or crystals
Solubility: Highly soluble in water
Melting point: Approx. 250 °C (anhydrous)
pH range (water solutions): 8.0 - 11.0
Density: Varies by hydrated form; ~1.06 g/mL for dihydrate
It is available in food grade, technical grade, and pharmaceutical grades and is valued for its purity, chemical stability, and buffering capacity.
In summary:
Chemical formula: Na2HPO4 (disodium hydrogen phosphate)
Occurrence: Anhydrous or various hydrated crystalline forms
Uses: Buffering agent, emulsifier, stabilizer, pH control, analytical reagent
Appearance: White, odorless, crystalline powder
Soluble in water, mildly alkaline solution
This makes di sodium hydrogen ortho phosphate a versatile chemical in industrial, pharmaceutical, food, and laboratory applications.