PIOTRAD.

Sulfuric Acid

Sulfuric acid is also known as Mattling acid or Oil of vitriol. It has a strong acidic nature and is corrosive. At higher concentrations, it acts as an oxidizing agent and dehydrating agent.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
98.079 g/mol	1.84 g/cm³	337 °C	10 °C

USES:

• Making fertilizers
• The production of steel and iron
• Chemical manufacturing industries
• Petroleum refining
• Produce phosphoric acid
• Remove the rust from steel and iron
• Catalyst to convert cyclohexanone oxime
  to caprolactam used to make nylon
• Lead-acid batteries as an electrolyte
• Making ammonium sulfate
• Storage batteries

Phosphoric Acid

Phosphoric Acid is an acid-containing four atoms of oxygen, one atom of phosphorus, and three atoms of hydrogen. It is also known as phosphoric(V) acid or orthophosphoric acid.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
97.994 g/mol	1.88 g/cm³	158 °C	42.35 °C

USES:

• Around 90% of phosphoric acid produced is used as fertilizers
• It is used as a supplement feed for pigs, cattle, poultry
• It is used in skincare products, cosmetics as a pH adjuster
• It is used in brewing, food and dairy industries as a sanitizing agent
• It is used in beverages and food like jam and cola to acidify them
• It is used to remove rust from the surface to metals

Acetic Acid

Acetic acid is an organic compound with the formula CH3COOH. It is a carboxylic acid consisting of a methyl group that is attached to a carboxyl functional group. The systematic IUPAC name of acetic acid is ethanoic acid and its chemical formula can also be written as C2H4O2. Vinegar is a solution of acetic acid in water and contains between 5% to 20% ethanoic acid by volume. The pungent smell and the sour taste is characteristic of the acetic acid present in it.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
60.052 g/mol	1.05 g/cm³	118 °C	16.6 °C

USES:

• Acetic acid is used as an antiseptic due to its antibacterial qualities
• The manufacture of rayon fiber involves the use of ethanoic acid.
• Medically, acetic acid has been employed to treat cancer by its direct injection into the tumour.
• Being the major constituent of vinegar, it finds use in the pickling of many vegetables.
• The manufacture of rubber involves the use of ethanoic acid. It is also used in the manufacture of various perfumes.
• It is widely used in the production of VAM (vinyl acetate monomer).
• When two molecules of acetic acid undergo a condensation reaction together, the product formed is acetic anhydride.

Nitric Acid

It is a highly corrosive mineral acid, fuming, colourless and plays a important role in the manufacture of fertilisers and explosives. It is also known as the spirit of niter and aqua fortis. In its pure form, it is colourless but as it gets older it turns into a yellow cast.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
63.01 g/mol	1.51 g/cm³	83 °C	-42 °C

USES:

• It is used to produce ammonium nitrates to manufacture plastic, dye, and fertilizers
• It is used in making explosives such as TNT
• It is used in liquid-fueled rockets as an oxidizer
• In its pure form, it is used in the removal of the wart
• It is used as a chemical doping agent in electrochemistry

Hydrochloric acid

When hydrogen chloride is dissolved in water HCl is formed. It is a simple diatomic molecule. The hydrogen and chlorine atom are connected with a single covalent bond. The bond between them is polar as the chlorine atom is more electronegative when compared with the hydrogen atom.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Appears	Boiling Point	Melting Point
36.458 g/mol	Transparent liquid	Depends on the concentration	Depends on the concentration

USES:

• Production of chlorides
• Rubber industries
• Production of fertilizers
• Textile industries
• Manufacture of dye
• Refining of metals
• Production of organic compounds like PVC
• Regulate the PH of solutions
• Stimulation of oil production

Citric Acid

Citric Acid is a weak acid with a chemical formula C6H8O7. It can occur in two forms – monohydrate or water-free (anhydrous). This acid is usually found in citrus fruits like lemons, oranges etc. It is considered as a tribasic acid.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
192.124 g/mol	1.66 g/cm³	310 °C	153 °C

USES:

• It is used as an antioxidant
• It is used as a cleaning agent – as an ingredient in kitchen and bathroom cleaning solution
• It is used as an emulsifying agent in ice creams
• It is used to add a sour taste to soft drinks and other food items
• It used in shampoo
• It is used in sucrose crystallization in caramel
• It is used in food colouring
• It is used as a natural preservative
• It is used to remove the chalky deposit from evaporators, kettles, boilers etc.

Boric Acid

It is an acid-containing compounds of boron, oxygen, and hydrogen. Boric acid is also known as acidum boricum, hydrogen borate, boracic acid, and orthoboric acid. It is a weak acid and has antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
61.83 g·mol−1	1.435 g/cm3	158 °C	300 °C

USES:

• In the manufacture of textile fibreglass
• In the production of the flat panel display
• It is used to neutralize the active hydrofluoric acid
• It is used by blacksmiths as welding flux
• In electroplating
• In the jewellery industry
• In the manufacture of silly putty
• As an Insecticidal
• As an antiseptic and antibacterial
• On carrom boards as a dry lubricant
• As a neutron poison in some nuclear plants
• To preserve grains like wheat and rice

Formic Acid

Formic acid is systematically named as methanoic acid. The common names for simple carboxylic acids come from the Latin or Greek names of their source. Formic acid, although not widely used as a solvent, is of interest as an example of a protic solvent with high acidity.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
1.22 g/cm³	46.03 g/mol	100.8 °C	8.4 °C

USES:

• Used as a mixture with citric acid or HCl because alone it is unable to remove iron oxide deposits.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most common chemical substances that we come across in our daily lives. It is found in hair bleaching and medical products. In this lesson, we will dive deeper into learning what hydrogen peroxide actually is, including its structure, properties and more.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
34.0147 g/mol	1.45 g/cm³	-0.43 °C	150.2 °C

USES:

• Hydrogen peroxide is an important chemical that is used in the treatment of domestic and industrial effluents.
• In pulp and paper bleaching.
• In detergents.
• For waste-water treatment.
• For disinfecting wounds.
• High-concentration H2O2 is used as a propellant.

Aluminium Hydroxide

Aluminic hydroxide is an amorphous powder white. It is insoluble in water but soluble in alkaline and acidic solutions.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Flashpoint	Melting Point
78.00 g/mol	2.42 g/dm3	Non-flammable	300 °C

USES:

• Aluminium hydroxide is used as a flame retardant in plastics.
• Used as an antacid.
• Used in aluminium Hydroxide gel.
• Used to manufacture activated alumina.
• Used as a filler in cosmetics.
• Used as a chemical intermediate.
• Used as a soft abrasive for plastics.
• Used in glass additive to increase resistance to thermal shock.
• Used in waterproofing fabrics.
• Used in the manufacturing of glass.

Aluminium Oxide

Aluminium Oxide is an inorganic chemical reagent with chemical name Aluminium oxide. It is also called as Alpha-Alumina, alumina, alundum or aloxide.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
101.960 g/mol	3.987g/cm3	2,072 °C	2,977 °C

USES:

• Aluminium oxide is one of the common ingredients in sunscreen and is also present in cosmetics such as nail polish, blush, and lipstick.
• It is used in formulations of glass.
• It is used as a catalyst.
• It is used in the purification of water to remove water from the gas streams.
• It is used in sandpaper as an abrasive.
• Aluminium oxide is an electrical insulator used as a substrate for integrated circuits.
• Used in sodium vapour lamps.

Barium Fluoride

Barium fluoride is a chemical compound composed of barium and fluorine and has a formula BaF2. It occurs in nature in the form of a mineral known as frankdicksonite. Here, in this short piece of article, learn more about barium fluoride formula, its chemical structure along with its properties and uses.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
175.34 g/mol	4.89 g/cm³	2,260 °C	1,368 °C

USES:

• Used to make optical components such as lens
• Used in the manufacture of carbon brushes for DC motor
• Used in the manufacture of glass

Borax

Borax is also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate or disodium tetraborate is explained in this article. Borax is a soft, colourless compound of Boron and can be dissolved in water. The main forms of borax are anhydrous and decahydrate salt and sometimes pentahydrate salt. This article focuses on the formula and structure of borax.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
201.22 g/mol (anhydrate)	1.73 g/dm3	1,575 °C	743 °C

USES:

• Used in food industry as a food additive.
• Used as a fire retardant.
• Used to prevent wood rot in boats.
• Used as a curing agent for snake skins.
• Used in swimming pools to control the pH.
• Used as an ingredient in vitamin supplements.
• Used in laundry cleaning products.
• Used in household cleaning products.
• Used in borax method.
• Used in forge welding by blacksmiths.

Calcium Chloride

This inorganic compound is a white powder or white coloured crystalline solid, odourless, and is highly soluble in water. It is an ionic compound comprising of calcium and chlorine. There exist one calcium cation and two chlorine anion in the structure of calcium chloride. At room temperature, it is a solid salt which acts as an ionic halide.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
110.98 g/mol	2.15 g/cm3 anhydrous	772–775 °C anhydrous	1,935 °C anhydrous

USES:

• It is used to prevent ice formation and therefore used in deicing.
• Used in the production of activated charcoal.
• Used as a sterilant for male animals.
• It is used in heating pads and self-heating cans.
• It is used to correct the mineral deficiencies in brewing beer
• Calcium chloride is used as an electrolyte in sports drinks
• In laboratories, the drying tubes are usually packed with calcium chloride.

Health Hazards

• This compound is irritating and needs to be handled with gloves.
• It is relatively safe to handle, but if ingested, it reacts exothermically with water and can cause burning of the mouth or esophagus.
• Calcium chloride is also recommended for the treatment of acute hyperkalemia, hypermagnesemia, and calcium-channel blocker overdose.

Caustic Soda

Sodium hydroxide is produced as a co-product in the production of chlorine. In its pure form, it is crystalline solid, and colourless in nature. This compound is highly water-soluble and consists of sodium cations and hydroxide anions. NaOH absorbs moisture from the air. It is highly corrosive and can cause severe skin burns and irritation to the eyes and other body parts.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
39.997 g/mol	2.13 g/cm³	1,388 °C	318 °C

USES:

• It is used in the manufacturing of detergents and soaps.
• It is used in the production of bleach-like chlorine.
• It is used in drain cleaners.
• It is used in the removal of heavy metals from the water by the municipal water treatment facility.
• It is used in food preservatives to prevent bacteria and mould growth.
• It is used for canning.
• It is used in papermaking and paper recycling.

Potassium hydroxide

Potassium hydroxide is also known as caustic potash, lye, and potash lye. This alkali metal hydroxide is a very powerful base. The aqueous form of potassium hydroxide appears as a clear solution. In its solid form, KOH can exist as white to slightly yellow lumps, flakes, pellets, or rods. No characteristic odour can be attributed to this compound in its solid state.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
56.11 g/mol	2.12 g/cm3	1,327 °C	360 °C

USES:

• Potassium hydroxide solution is more conductive when compared to NaOH and therefore used as an electrolyte in some alkaline batteries.
• It is used as a pH control agent in the food industry.
• It is used in the thickening of food.
• It is used in chip fabrication for semiconductors.
• It is used in the manufacturing of cuticle removers which are used in manicure treatment.
• It is used in the identification of species of fungi.
• It is used in mercerizing cotton.
• It is used in alkalimetric titrations in analytical chemistry.
• Used in the manufacturing of liquid fertilisers.

Potassium Carbonate

It is also called Carbonate of potash, or Dipotassium carbonate or Pearl ash. It is a dipotassium salt of carbonic acid. It is widely used in the production of glass and soap.
Pearl ash is hygroscopic, deliquescent powder white. It is odourless and tastes alkaline. It is readily soluble in water but insoluble in ethanol, acetone, and alcohol. It has a pH of 11.6. It is a primary component of potash.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
138.205 g/mol	2.43 g/cm3	Decomposes	891 °C

USES:

• Potassium carbonate is used as a mild drying agent.
• Used in the making of grass jelly.
• Used to produce Dutch process chocolate by alkalization.
• Used in the production of wire or mead by acting as a buffering agent.
• Used to soften hard water.
• Used in welding fluxes.
• Used as a fire suppressant.

Potassium Flouride

Potassium fluoride is a chemical compound that is the primary source of fluoride ion after hydrogen fluoride. KF is the molecular formula of potassium fluoride. It is a colourless or white crystalline compound with no odour.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
58.0967 g/mol (anhydrous) 94.1273 g/mol (dihydrate)	2.48 g/cm³	1,505 °C	858 °C (anhydrous) 41 °C (dihydrate) 19.3 °C (trihydrate)

USES:

• Used as a fluoridating agent in the precipitation of organic chemicals
• Used as a flux in the field of metallurgy
• Used in the manufacture of optical glasses
• Used to make disinfectants, pesticides and insecticides

Soda Ash

Soda Ash is the common name for sodium carbonate, which is a chemical compound with the formula Na2CO3. This compound is also known as washing soda and soda crystals. Soda ash can be categorised as an inorganic compound. It can be noted that all hydrates of sodium carbonate are referred to as soda ash.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
105.9888 g/mol	2.54 g/cm³	1,600 °C	851 °C

USES:

• It is used in the manufacture of detergents, soaps, and paper.
• Also used in the manufacture of water glass (sodium silicate), borax, sodium phosphate, and many other sodium compounds.
• It is used as a wetting agent in the brick industry
• It is used as an abrasive and foaming agent in toothpaste
• It is used as a pH modifier
• It is used as a water softener –  Hard water which consists of magnesium and calcium ions are precipitated by carbonate.
• As a laboratory reagent to standardize acids and as an analytical reagent.

Potassium Sorbate

Potassium sorbate is a preservative found in food, skin care, cosmetics, and personal care products. It is the potassium salt of a naturally occurring compound known as sorbic acid. This ingredient kills microorganisms and prevents the growth of bacteria, fungi, and mold.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Solubility in water	Melting Point
150.22 g/mol	At 20 °C: 58.2%	135 °C

USES:

• This mild preservative has been valued for decades for its antimicrobial properties, and is an especially effective food preservative found in dehydrated meats, dairy products, and pastries.
• Can prevent the growth of fungi, mold, yeast, and other potentially harmful foodborne pathogens. Although this natural preservative isn’t as effective against bacteria, and will need to be complemented with other preservatives.
• Makes an effective preservative in food, but this ingredient’s antimicrobial and antifungal properties are easily transferred to skin care and cosmetic products.

Sodium Bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate or Sodium hydrogen carbonate has a monoclinic crystalline structure. Nicolas Leblanc a French chemist produced sodium carbonate in the year 1791. In the year 1846 Austin Church and John Dwight, bakers of New York started the first factory to produce baking soda. It is a white solid crystalline chemical compound usually in its powder form.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
84.0066 g/ mol	Solids: 2.20 g/cm3 Powder: 1.1 – 1.3	851 °C	50 °C

USES:

• It is used as pest control to kill cockroaches and controlling fungal growth
• It is used as a disinfectant
• It is used to protect armpits from bad smell and irritation
• It is used in cooking especially to bake food items
• It is used in medicine to be injected intravenously to the prevention of chemotherapy side effects
• It is used to wash kitchen products due to its antibacterial properties
• It is used to have clean teeth and mouth

Sodium bisulfate

NaHSO4 is a sodium salt of the bisulfate anion with chemical name Sodium bisulfate. It is also called Sodium acid sulfate or Bisulfate of soda or Sodium hydrosulfate. In its anhydrous form, it is hygroscopic. The solutions are acidic with a pH value of 1 for every 1M solution.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
120.06 g/mol (anhydrous)	2.742 g/cm3 (anhydrous	Decomposes at 315 °C	150°C

USES:

• Sodium bisulfate is used to lower the pH of water in swimming pools.
• Used in metal finishing.
• Used in the chicken house to reduce the concentration of Salmonella.
• Used as a bleaching agent.
• Used as a catalyst.
• Used in the manufacturing of paper products.
• Used in the water treatment products.
• Used in paints.
• Used in agricultural chemicals.
• Used in velvet cloths.

Sodium Hypochlorite

It is also known as liquid bleach. It consists of hypochlorite anion and sodium cation. It usually appears as a pale greenish yellow dilute solution. It is an anhydrous unstable compound which can decompose explosively. It has a sweetish and chlorine-like odour. It is widely used as a cleaning agent or disinfectant and bleaching agent. It is a widely used household chemical.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
74.44 g/mol	1.11 g/cm³	101 °C	18 °C

USES:

• It is used as a key ingredient in laundry bleach
• It is used as a bleaching agent
• It is used in textile industries
• It is used as an oxidizing agent
• It is used in detergent industries
• It is used in the refining of petroleum products
• It is used in paper industries
• It is used in wastewater treatment
• It is used as a disinfectant
• It is used in food processing to sanitize the food preparation equipment
• It is used in swimming pools to keep the infectious agents at bay

Calcium Hypochlorite

It is commonly referred to as bleaching powder or calcium oxychloride. It is an ionic compound that is made up of a calcium cation (Ca2+) and two hypochlorite anions (ClO–). Despite being quite stable at room temperatures, calcium hypochlorite slowly decomposes in moist environments, giving it a characteristic ‘chlorine’ smell.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
142.98 g/mol	2.35 g/cm³	373K	Decomposes at 448K (175°C)

USES:

• Since it is a good oxidizing agent, this compound is quite useful in the field of organic chemistry.
• It is used to obtain fragmented aldehydes/carboxylic acids by cleaving the bonds in glycols and keto acids.
• Ca(ClO)2 can also be used in the halo form reaction to yield chloroform.
• The compound can be used to disinfect both wastewater and drinking water since it has a high chlorine availability.

Sodium Nitrate

Sodium nitrate is an inorganic nitrate salt of an alkali metal with the chemical formula NaNO3. Commonly referred to as “Chile saltpetre”, this compound consists of a sodium cation (Na+) and a nitrate anion (NO3–). At room temperature, sodium nitrate exists as a white, crystalline solid which is highly soluble in water.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
84.99 g/mol	2.257 g/cm³	380°C	308°C

USES:

• Hybrid forms of aqua regia can be prepared with the help of NaNO3. These hybrids also have the ability to dissolve gold.
• This compound is widely used as a food additive since it acts as a preservative.
• Sodium nitrate is used as an oxidizer in several types of fireworks.
• It is also a component of some instant cold packs.
• NaNO3 is one of the components used for the storage and transfer of heat in some solar power plants.
• In order to promote the growth of Nitrosomonas bacteria, this compound is added to the wastewater in several wastewater treatment plants.
• Sodium nitrate is also used in several rocket propellants and is known to be a substitute for potassium nitrate in gunpowder.

Sodium Sulphate

Anhydrous sulphate is a white crystalline solid also known as the mineral thenardite, while the decahydrate Na2SO4.10H2O has been known as Glauber’s salt or mirabilis.
Na2SO4.7H2O is transformed to mirabilite when it is cooled. Mirabilite is the natural mineral form of the decahydrate. About two-thirds of the world’s production of sodium sulphate is obtained from mirabilite. It is also produced from by-products of chemical processes such as hydrochloric acid production.

PROPERTIES of (anhydrous)

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
142.04 gm/mole	2.664 gm/ml	1429 °C	884 °C

USES:

• Sodium sulphate is used to dry organic liquids.
• As a filler in powdered home laundry detergents.
• As a fining agent which removes small air bubbles from molten glass.
• Glauber’s salt, the decahydrate, was used as a laxative which removes certain drugs such as acetaminophen from the body.
• For defrosting windows, in carpet fresheners, starch manufactured, as an additive to cattle feed.
• In the manufacture of detergents and in the Kraft process of paper pulping.

Sodium Sulfite

Sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) is a white, water-soluble, crystalline solid with a sulphurous, salty taste. It decomposes when heated. It is generally available in powder, crystalline, and tablet forms.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
126.043 gm/mole	2.633g/cm³	Decomposes	500°C

USES:

• This compound is often used to prevent the discolouration of dried fruits since it can act as a preservative.
• It is also used in swimming pools to decrease the chlorine levels in the water.
• In boiler systems, this compound acts as an oxygen scavenger to protect the system from pitting corrosion. Therefore, the water fed to boilers is often treated with sodium sulfite.
• The textile industry makes extensive use of Na2SO3 for bleaching, dechlorinating and desulfurizing purposes.
• Sodium sulfite is also used in the process of purifying trinitrotoluene (TNT) in order to make it fit for military use.
• This compound is also an important component in the preparation of sodium thiosulfate.

Sodium Thiosulfate

Sodium thiosulfate, which is also referred to as sodium sulphate, is a chemical compound that has the formula Na2S2O3. It is typically found in its pentahydrate form which is either white in colour, or colourless altogether.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
248.18 g/mol	1.667g/cm³	373 K	321.4 K

USES:

• Na2S2O3 is a very important chemical compound in the medical treatment of cyanide poisoning cases.
• Sodium thiosulfate is also used medically to treat dermatophytosis (ringworm) and tinea versicolor.
• The side effects of chemotherapy and hemodialysis (purification of blood) are treated with Na2S2O3.
• It is a very important compound in analytical chemistry since it stoichiometrically reacts with iodine to reduce it to the iodide ion while it is oxidized to the S4O62- (tetrathionate) ion.
• Sodium thiosulfate salts are used as photographic fixers due to the ability of the thiosulfate ions to react with silver halides, which make up photographic emulsions.
• Ammonium thiosulfate and sodium thiosulfate make up lixiviants (liquid mediums used in hydrometallurgy) which are used in the extraction of gold from its ores.
• In order to reduce the chlorine levels in water bodies, Na2S2O3 is used in the dechlorination process.

Trisodium Citrate

Na3C6H5O7 is sodium salt of citrate which has an alkalinizing activity with the chemical name Sodium Citrate.
Sodium Citrate is also called Trisodium Citrate or Citrosodine or Natrocitral. It is widely used as a food preservative, for alkalization of urine to prevent kidney stones, as an anticoagulant for stored blood, and buffer.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Melting Point
258.068 g/mol	>300 °C

USES:

• Sodium Citrate helps in enabling the melting of cheeses by not becoming greasy.
• Used in drinks and food as an acidity regulator.
• Used as an emulsifier for oils.
• Used as a pharmaceutical aid.
• Used as an anticoagulant for the blood.
• Used to prevent curdling of milk.
• Used as a food additive.
• Used to avoid clotting of fresh beef blood.
• Used in electroplating.

Ammonium Chloride

Ammonium chloride is a by-product of sodium carbonate. Ammonium chloride has diuretic and expectorant effects. In its pure form, it is crystalline salt, white. This compound is highly water-soluble and mildly acidic. Ammonium chloride is used in veterinary medicine for the prevention of urinary stones in sheep, goats, and cattle.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
53.491 g/mol	1.53 g/cm³	520 °C	338 °C

USES:

• It is used in fertilizers as a nitrogen source.
• It is used in medicine (especially in cough medicine) as an expectorant.
• It is used in glue which helps to bond plywood.
• It is used in Leclanche cells in aqueous solutions.
• It is used in food additives – in bread making as a yeast nutrient.
• It is used as an acidifier.
• It is used in cooling baths to create low temperatures.
• They are used as buffer solutions along with ammonia.
• It is given to cattle as feed supplements.

Zinc Chloride

Zinc chloride is a chemical compound with the formula ZnCl2.
Nine different crystalline forms of zinc chloride are currently known. These hydrates of ZnCl2 are either white in colour or colourless. All of them are highly soluble in water.

PROPERTIES

Molecular Weight	Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
136.315g/mol	2.907g/cm³	732°C	290°C

USES:

• In its molten state, this compound acts as a catalyst for some aromatization reactions. For example, hexamethyl benzene can be obtained from methanol with the help of a molten ZnCl2
• Since it acts as a moderately strong Lewis acid, this compound can also serve as a catalyst for the Fischer indole synthesis reaction and some Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions.
• The Lucas reagent is a solution of anhydrous zinc chloride and concentrated hydrochloric acid. This reagent is very useful in the preparation of alkyl chlorides.
• A mixture of zinc oxide and hexachloroethane is used in some smoke grenades. Upon ignition, these compounds react to form a smoke of zinc chloride, which serves as a smokescreen.
• ZnCl2 is also useful in fingerprint detection since it forms an easily detectable complex with Ruhemann’s purple.
• The aqueous solutions of this compound, when diluted, can be used for disinfecting purposes. It is a constituent of several antiseptic mouthwash products.

Toluene

Toluene is a naturally occurring compound derived primarily from petroleum or petrochemical processes. Toluene is a common component in gasoline, glues, and paint products. Toluene is a liquid, which is colourless, water-insoluble and smells like paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted colourless liquid, consisting of a CH3 group that is attached to a phenyl group.

USES:

• "Toluene is widely used as a precursor to benzene. The chemical equation for the reaction between toluene and hydrogen gas can be written as follows.
  C6H5CH3 + H2 → C6H6 + CH4"
• While the second most used application involves a disproportionate to a mixture of benzene and xylene.

Xylene

Xylene is an organic chemical compound. It is also known as dimethylbenzene or Xylol. It is one of the three isomers of dimethyl benzene. It consists of a central benzene ring attached to two methyl groups as substituents.
In the year 1850, Xylol was first isolated by French chemist Auguste Cahours. Xylol is a colourless, clear, flammable liquid. It is produced by catalytic reforming as well as by coal carbonization. It also occurs naturally in crude oil, aircraft fuels, and gasoline. The mixture of xylene is slightly greasy and has a sweet smell, usually encountered as a solvent.

USES:

• Xylene is used as a raw material for the manufacture of fibres, dyes, and films.
• Used in laboratories to cool reaction vessels.
• It is used as a clearing agent.
• It is used to thin the thick varnishes and paints.
• It was used as a tear gas agent in World War I.

Acetone

Acetone is a highly flammable organic compound. This organic solvent has a chemical formula C3H6O.
It is also known as propanone. It is found in the exhaust from vehicles, plants, trees and forest fires.
It is also found in the human body usually present in urine and blood. It is colourless and volatile.
It is miscible in water, ether, ethanol and has a pungent, floral or irritating smell.
It is widely used as an antiseptic and solvent. Alchemists were the first to produce acetone.
It is produced with the dry distillation of metal acetates. Currently, acetone is produced by propylene either by the direct or indirect method. Almost 83% of acetone is produced during the cumene process.
Also, there are other older methods to produce acetone.

USES:

• It is used as a solvent for synthetic fibres and plastics
• It is used as a precursor for methyl methacrylate
• It is used to prepare metal before painting
• It is used in pharmaceutical industries in some drugs
• It is volatile and hence used in the laboratory to rinse lab glassware
• It is used as a drying agent
• It is used in the defatting process
• It is used in cosmetics such as nail polish remover
• It is used in the treatment of acne

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is one of a large family of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds which evaporates and becomes gaseous at room temperature. Formaldehyde is a reactive molecule and the first in the series of aliphatic aldehydes. It is one of the most important industrial chemicals. Formaldehyde is usually described as a gas, but it also exists dissolved in water or other solvents. Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance used in a wide variety of applications.

USES:

• Used in the production of resins, principally urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde, which are used to make cores and moulds for foundries.
• Used in agriculture and medicine where it is used as a disinfectant, fungicide, fumigant and preservative.
• Formaldehyde is used to produce a wide array of products, particularly building materials.

Methanol

Methanol is simplest alcohol with chemical formula CH3OH. It is not a hydrocarbon since the hydroxyl group is chemically bonded to the carbon atom.
It consists of a methyl group linked with a hydroxyl group. It is also known as Wood alcohol or Methyl alcohol. It has a distinctive odour which is milder and sweeter than ethanol. It is volatile and does not have colour. It is a flammable, light, poisonous liquid. Consumption of methanol is toxic and can cause blindness. It is widely used in the manufacture of acetic acid and formaldehyde.

USES:

• It is used in polymers after getting converted to formaldehyde.
• It is used to produce hydrocarbons.
• It is used as a precursor for methyl ethers, methylamines, and methyl halides.
• It is used as a fuel for internal combustion engines.
• It is an excellent energy carrier.
• It is used in wastewater plants.
• It is used as fuel in boating stoves and camping.
• It is used as an antifreeze.
• It is used in the synthesis of chemicals.
• Pure methanol is used in the manufacture of perfumes, resins, and pharmaceuticals.

Ethanol

Ethanol is a plant fermentation by-product which is natural and it can also be produced through the hydration of ethylene.
Ethanol is an important industrial chemical; it is used as a solvent, in the synthesis of other organic chemicals, and as an additive to automotive gasoline.

USES:

• In the cosmetics and beauty products industry, it is a common ingredient when it comes to lotions as preservatives for helping the skin.
• It is used in paints as preservatives because it is an effective solvent and also used in cleansing products for preventing breach of organisms
• It is used as a colour additive and is also used for giving an enhanced flavour
• It is used in gasoline for preventing the knocking of engines and maintenance of drivability.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol commonly referred to as Isopropanol or n-propanol or dimethylcarbinol is a colourless and flammable liquid with the formula C3H8O.
Isopropyl alcohol is widely employed in solvent applications. Isopropyl alcohol was one of the first petrochemical products to be manufactured and produced in 1920. The solvent properties of isopropyl alcohol are similar to ethyl alcohol. It is also called isopropyl solvents.

USES:

• Used as a solvent and intermediate in the production of chemicals. In industry, it is used as a solvent for the instant manufacture of cements, primers, paints and varnishes.
• Most commonly used as a disinfectant for wiping down the surfaces of furniture and shelves in the operating room. It is effective against HBV viruses and is, therefore, used to clean blood or body fluids from the surface of equipment or furniture in the operating room.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone

Methyl ethyl ketone is an organic compound which is also known as butanone or methylacetone.
Methyl ethyl ketone is a dialkyl ketone which consists of 4 carbon ketone that carries a single keto group at the C-2 position. It acts as a bacterial metabolite and polar aprotic solvent.

USES:

• Methyl ethyl ketone is used as a plastic welding agent because it has the ability to dissolve polystyrene and various other plastics.
• It is used in the production of varnishes, and paraffin wax.
• It acts as a precursor in polymerization reactions.
• It is used as a cleaning agent.
• Methyl ethyl ketone is used in glues.
• Butanone is used in the production of petroleum.

Ethyl Acetate

Commercially, ethyl acetate is made from 10% acetic acid “quick vinegar” process and 50% alcohol “high wines” by a distillation process. A ternary mixture of ethyl acetate, water and ethyl alcohol distils first. Ethyl acetate is a colourless and sweet-smelling ester of acetic acid and ethanol.

USES:

• Used as an indirect food additive in certain packaging materials.
• Used as an oxygenated solvent widely used in the inks, pharmaceuticals and fragrance sectors.
• Used as flavouring agents and preservatives in the food industry.
• Used as a good solvent for nitrocellulose, fats, varnishes, lacquers inks and aeroplane dopes, it is used in the production of smokeless powder, artificial leather, photographic films and plates and artificial silk.
• Used as a cleaning agent in the textile industry.

Nitrogen

The seventh element of the periodic table between carbon and oxygen is nitrogen. It’s an important part of amino acids. Around eighty per cent of the Earth’s atmosphere comprises nitrogen gas. It has no colour, mostly diatomic non-metal gas which is odourless and colourless in nature.

PROPERTIES

Denisty	Boiling Point	Melting Point
0.001145 g/cm³	−195.7 °C	−210.0 °C

USES:

• It is used in the manufacture of ammonia, to produce nitric acid and subsequently used as a fertilizer.
• Nitric acid salts include important compounds like potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid. Nitrated organic compounds such as nitro glycerine are often explosives.
• Liquid nitrogen is utilized as a refrigerant for transporting foodstuff and freezing purposes. Preservation of bodies and reproductive cells and stable storage of biological samples also makes use of liquid nitrogen.
• Nitrogen makes up 78 per cent of the Earth’s atmosphere and is a part of all living tissue. Nitrogen is a crucial ingredient of life since it is a constituent of DNA and as such is part of the genetic code.
• Nitrogen molecules often exist in the soil. Nitrogen can be present in nitrates and nitrites in water and in soil. These compounds are all part of the nitrogen cycle and both are interconnected.