Chemical Properties
Sodium bromate is a colorless or white crystalline solid. Odorless.
Chemical Properties
White crystals or powder; odorless. Soluble in water;
insoluble in alcohol.
Uses
As a mixture with sodium bromide for dissolving gold from its ores.
Uses
Sodium bromate is used as an oxidant to convert tetrahydropyranyl ethers to carbonyl compounds. It acts as an analytical reagent. It is also used for dissolving gold from its ores, boiler cleaning, oxidation of sulfur and vat dyes. Further, it is used in hair treatment formulations as a hair-permanent.
Uses
The bromates of chief industrial interest are those of sodium
and potassium. Sodium bromate is used in mixtures with
sodium bromide to extract gold from ore. It is also used as an
analytical reagent, as a cleaning agent for boilers, and as a
component in hair-waving formulations. Potassium
bromate is used primarily as a conditioner for flour and
dough; some of its nonfood uses include use as an oxidizing
agent for analytic chemistry and as a brominating agent.
The bromates of calcium and barium have limited use as
oxidizers, maturing agents in flour, and analytic reagents.
Definition
ChEBI: An inorganic sodium salt having bromate as the counterion.
General Description
A white crystalline solid. May explode under prolonged exposure to heat or fire. Used in chemical analysis.
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble.
Reactivity Profile
Sodium bromate is an oxidizing agent. May react violently with combustibles and reducing agents. Reacts with textiles, oil, fat, grease, sugar, sawdust and ammonium salts, carbon, phosphorus, metal powders and sulfides with hazard of fire and explosion [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980 p. 831]. A mixture of finely divided aluminum with finely divided Sodium bromate explodes by heat, percussion, and friction [Mellor 2:310 1946-47].
Hazard
Oxidizing material, dangerous fire risk near
organic materials. Toxic by ingestion.
Health Hazard
Toxic by ingestion. Inhalation of dust is toxic. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Contact with substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
These substances will accelerate burning when involved in a fire. May explode from heat or contamination. Some may burn rapidly. Some will react explosively with hydrocarbons (fuels). May ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard.
Safety Profile
Poison by ingestion, intravenous, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal routes. A powerful oxidizer. Violent reactions with Al, As, C, Cu, oil, F2, metal sulfides, organic matter, P, S. lxtures with grease are shock-sensitive explosives at 120’C. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Na2O and Br-. See also BROMATES.
Potential Exposure
Used for research and development; as an analytical reagent; for separating gold from ores; making vat dyes; boiler cleaning.
Shipping
UN1494 Sodium bromate, Hazard Class: 5.1; Labels: 5.1-Oxidizer. UN1450 Bromates, inorganic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 5.1; Labels: 5.1-Oxidizer, Technical Name Required.
Purification Methods
It is crystallised from hot water (1.1mL/g) to decrease contamination by NaBr, bromine and hypobromite. [Noszticzius et al. J Am Chem Soc 107 2314 1985.]
Incompatibilities
Dust may form explosive mixture with air. A strong oxidizer capable of increasing the intensity of an existing fire. Can react, possibly violently, with combustible, organic, or other oxidizable materials, alcohols, glycols, reducing agents, strong acids, finely divided metals, especially aluminum. Contamination with carbon, organic matter, and finely divided metal can cause sodium bromate become shock-sensitive. Decomposes at 381C. Sodium bromate may explode in heat of fire.
Waste Disposal
SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material’s impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations. See also Sigma-Aldridge data sheet (Sodium Bromate .99%).
