Disodium oxalate

Chembox new
Name = Disodium oxalate
ImageFile = Sodium-oxalate-2D.png ImageName = Disodium oxalate
OtherNames = Oxalic acid, disodium salt
Sodium ethanedioate
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 62-76-0
Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = Na₂C₂O₄
MolarMass = 133.99914 g/mol
Solubility = 3.7 g/100 ml (20°C)

Disodium oxalate is a sodium salt of oxalic acid with the molecular formula Na₂C₂O₄. It can act as a reducing agent, and it may be used as a primary standard for standardizing potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) solutions.

In biology experiments, sodium oxalate, like citrates, can also be used to remove calcium ions (Ca²⁺) from blood plasma. It also prevents blood from clotting. Note that by removing calcium ions from the blood, sodium oxalate can impair brain function, and deposit calcium oxalate in the kidneys.

Disodium oxalate is frequently referred to as sodium oxalate. Since the polyatomic ion of oxalate has a negative two charge [http://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/molecules/oxm.html] , there can be no other compound consisting of sodium and oxalate other than disodium oxalate. Therefore, the prefix "di" is often dropped. [http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/S4586.htm]

The mineral form of sodium oxalate is natroxalate. It is only very rarely found and restricted to extremely sodic conditions of ultra-alkaline pegmatites. [http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/natroxalate.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy]

References

[http://www.sciencestuff.com/msds/C2666.html MSDS sheet for Sodium Oxalate]