He Sodium phosphate Is a generic term for a variety of sodium salts (Na + ) And phosphate (PO43 - ). It usually refers to trisodium phosphate (Na 3 PO 4 ).
However, it can also refer to two other compounds. Sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH 2 PO 4 ) Can also be called monosodium phosphate. Disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na 2 HPO 4 ) Can also be called disodium phosphate (ROBINSON, 2015). The structures of these compounds are presented in figure 1.
Figure 1: structure of the monosodium phosphate (left), disodium (med.) And trisodium (right) phosphate
The phosphate also forms condensed families or anions including di-, tri-, tetra- and polyphosphates. Most of these salts are known in both anhydrous (water-free) forms and in hydrated forms. Hydrates are more common than anhydrous forms (EMBL-EBI, 2016).
Sodium phosphates are a food additive that combines the phosphate, or phosphorus, and sodium minerals. Phosphate salts are also sometimes used as a medicine, and are generally considered safe by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, there are people, whose health, requires them to keep a low intake of phosphorus. In this case, they may want to reduce the amount of sodium phosphate they consume. You may also want to know other types of phosphates, such as Calcium phosphate: formulas, uses and risks .
Physical and chemical properties
Sodium phosphate is a white crystalline powder with no characteristic aroma. This appearance is presented in both monosodium and disodium and trisodium form (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2017). All these are shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: appearance of monosodium phosphate (left), disodium (med.) And trisodium (right) phosphate
The monosodium compound has a molecular weight of 119.98 g / mol and a density of 2.36 g / ml. It has a melting point of 200 ° C (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015).
The disodium compound has a molecular weight of 141.96 g / mol and a density of 1.7 g / ml. It has a melting point of 243 to 245 ° C where it begins to decompose (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015).
The trisodium compound has a molecular weight of 163.939 g / mol, a density of 1.63 g / ml and a melting point of 75 ° C (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015).
The three compounds are soluble in water, the monosodium being the most soluble being able to dissolve 59.9 grams per 100 ml of water at 0 ° C while the disodium and trisodium form can be dissolved 11.8 and 14.5 grams per 100 ml of water at 25 ° C.
Sodium phosphate corrodes aluminum and zinc. Reacts when heated above 84 ° C with aqueous solutions of reducing sugars other than sucrose to develop toxic levels of carbon monoxide (SODIUM PHOSPHATE, TRIBASIC, 2016).
Reactivity and hazards
Sodium sulfates are classified as stable and irritant compounds. The trisodium form decomposes in the fire to emit phosphorus oxides, highly toxic and irritating.
The compounds can cause itching and corrosion in case of contact with the skin and eyes. It can also cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract when ingested and excoriation of the nasal mucosa and respiratory system In case of inhalation.
Contact with eyes may result in corneal damage or blindness. Contact with skin may cause swelling and blisters. Inhalation of dust will produce irritation of the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract, characterized by burning, sneezing and coughing. Severe overexposure may result in lung damage, asphyxia, unconsciousness, or death.
Eye contact
In case of contact with eyes, contact lenses should be checked and removed. Immediately flush eyes with plenty of cool water for at least 15 minutes.
Skin contact
In case of contact with the skin, the affected area should be rinsed immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes.
Cover irritated skin with an emollient. Wash clothing and shoes before reuse. If the contact is severe, wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the skin contaminated with an anti-bacterial cream
Inhalation
In case of inhalation, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen.
Ingestion
If the compound is ingested, do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Loosen tight clothing such as a shirt collar, belt or tie.
In all cases, medical attention should be obtained immediately (Material Safety Data Sheet Sodium phosphate tribasic, 2013).
Applications
1- Additive in food
Disodium hydrogenphosphate may serve as a texturizer and a texture modifying agent. This form of sodium phosphate may be added for the purpose of changing the appearance or feel of the food. A texturizing agent is often added to increase the shelf life of food.
Sodium phosphate can be added to a baked product to help the dough grow. The most common uses of sodium phosphate as a yeast agent are in the dough for breaded chicken or fish and commercially sold cakes.
Sodium phosphates can also be added to foods to change the surface tension of liquid food components. This is typically done to serve as a foaming or whipping agent.
Sodium phosphate can be added to foods to prevent them from becoming too acidic or alkaline.
This compound can also be added to foods as a dietary supplement. Phosphates are an essential nutrient.
2- Medicine
In medicine, it can help lower high blood calcium levels or increase low phosphate levels. It may also be helpful in limiting some types of kidney stones.
Sodium phosphate is a saline laxative believed to work by increasing fluid in the small intestine. It usually results in a bowel movement after 30 minutes to 6 hours.
This medicine may be used to constipation occasional. However, to treat this condition it is advisable to use softer products (such as stool softeners, mass-forming laxatives) whenever possible.
This product (usually along with other products) may also be prescribed to clean bowel feces prior to surgery or certain bowel procedures (such as colonoscopy, x-ray) (WebMD, LLC, S.F.).
There have been reports of severe kidney problems in patients using oral sodium phosphate medications. This usually occurs days after taking sodium phosphates; However, some cases occurred up to several months after use.
Some patients developed permanent kidney problems, and some required long-term dialysis (Sodium phosphates, S.F.).
3- Other uses
Disodium phosphate also has other uses. It can be used in water treatment and as a flame retardant (BRUSO, 2015).
References
- BRUSO, J. (2015, May 17). The Use of Disodium Phosphate . Retrieved from livestrong.com.
- EMBL-EBI. (2016, June 1). Sodium phosphate . Retrieved from ebi.ac.uk.
- Material Safety Data Sheet Sodium phosphate tribasic . (2013, May 21). Retrieved from sciencelab.com.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (2017, March 28). PubChem Compound Database; CID = 23672064 . Retrieved from pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (2017, March 28). PubChem Compound Database; CID = 24203 . Retrieved from pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (2017, March 28). PubChem Compound Database; CID = 24243 . Retrieved from pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- ROBINSON, A. (2015, April 14). Food Additives: What is Sodium Phosphate? Retrieved from livestrong.com.
- Royal Society of Chemistry (2015). Disodium hydrogen phosphate . Recovered from chemspider.com.
- Royal Society of Chemistry (2015). Monosodium phosphate . Recovered from chemspider.com.
- Royal Society of Chemistry (2015). Trisodium phosphate . Recovered from chemspider.com.
- SODIUM PHOSPHATE, TRIBASIC (2016). Recovered from cameochemicals.noaa.gov.
- Sodium phosphates . (S.F.). Retrieved from drugs.com.
- WebMD, LLC. (S.F.). Sodium Phosphates . Retrieved from webmd.com.