Sodium dichromate technical CAS: 10588-01-9 is a strong oxidant.

Sodium dichromate is the chemical compound with the formula Na2Cr2O7. Usually, however, the salt is handled as its dihydrate Na2Cr2O7·2H2O. Virtually all chromium ore is processed via conversion to sodium dichromate. In this way, many millions of kilograms of sodium dichromate are produced annually. In terms of reactivity and appearance, sodium dichromate and potassium dichromate are very similar. The sodium salt is, however, around twenty times more soluble in water than the potassium salt (49 g/L at 0 °C) and its equivalent weight is also lower, which is often desirable.

Red crystal                             25KG  Drum

Warehouse

Production

Sodium dichromate is generated on a large scale from ores containing chromium(III) oxides. The ore is fused with a base, typically sodium carbonate, at around 1000 °C in the presence of air (source of oxygen):

2 Cr2O3 + 4 Na2CO3 + 3 O2 → 4 Na2CrO4 + 4 CO2

This step solubilizes the chromium and allows it to be extracted into hot water. At this stage, other components of the ore such as aluminium and iron compounds, are poorly soluble. Acidification of the resulting aqueous extract with sulfuric acid or carbon dioxide affords the dichromate, which is isolated at the dihydrate by crystallization. Since chromium(VI) is toxic, especially as the dust, such factories are subject to stringent regulations. For example, effluent from such refineries is treated with reducing agents to return any chromium(VI) to chromium(III), which is less threatening to the environment. A variety of hydrates of this salt are known, ranging from the decahydrate below 19.5 °C (CAS# 13517-17-4 ) as well as hexa-, tetra-, and dihydrates. Above 62 °C, these salts lose water spontaneously to give the anhydrous material.

Reactions

Dichromate and chromate salts are oxidizing agents. For the tanning of leather, sodium dichromate is first reduced with sulfur dioxide.

In the area of organic synthesis, this compound oxidizes benzylic and allylic C-H bonds to carbonyl derivatives. For example, 2,4,6-trinitrotolueneis oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acid. Similarly, 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene is oxidized by Na2Cr2O7 to 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid.

Secondary alcohols are oxidized to the corresponding ketone, e.g. menthol to menthone;dihydrocholesterol to cholestanone:

3 R2CHOH + Cr2O72- + 2 H+ → 3 R2C=O + Cr2O3 + 4 H2O

Relative to the potassium salt, the main advantage of sodium dichromate is its greater solubility in water and polar solvents like acetic acid.

When heated strongly, sodium dichromate decomposes to form sodium chromate, chromium(III) oxide and oxygen: 4 Na2Cr2O7 → 4 Na2CrO4 + 2 Cr2O3 + 3 O2

Safety

Like all hexavalent chromium compounds, sodium dichromate is considered hazardous. It is also a known carcinogen. Sodium Dichromate can be used in fluorene to fluorenone conversion.

Stockpile

Airtight operation, strengthen ventilated.