Sodium cacodylate is a white crystalline solid which occurs as the trihydrate. It liquefies in the water of hydration @ 60°C and becomes anhydrous @ 120°C.
Sodium cacodylate trihydrate has been used in the stabilization of the fixatives for electron microscopy. It has also been used to collect vibratome sections to perform nucleoside-diphosphatase technique.
Sodium cacodylate trihydrate has been used as a buffer to fix cells for transmission electron microscopy and as a buffer to fix cells for scanning electron microscopy.
Cacodylic acid sodium salt is used as a buffer (pH buffering range of 5.1 - 7.4), especially for bactericidal buffers used in electron microscopy. The buffering capacity of cacodylate prevents excess acidity that may result from tissue fixation. It is also used in protein crystallisation.
Sodium cacodylate is an organic arsenic compound that is metabolized to produce inorganic, trivalent arsenicin vivo. Sodium cacodylate has been used as a source of arsenic in toxicological research. It is used as a buffer with an effective pH buffering range of 5.1-7.4. In microscopy studies, the buffering capacity of cacodylate prevents excess acidity that may result from tissue fixation.
This material has been used as a nonselective herbicide and for general weed control.
UN1688 Sodium cacodylate Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials. UN3465 Organoarsenic compound, solid, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1Poisonous materials, Technical Name Required
Incompatible with oxidizers, strong bases; acids, active metals (iron, aluminum, zinc). Contact with acids react to form highly toxic dimethylarsine gas. Attacks some metals.
For cacodylic acid, precipitate as calcium arsenate and calcium arsenite by treatment with excess lime water. Recycle if possible. If not, put in secure storage for possible disposal in leach-proof dumps. In accordance with 40CFR165, follow recommendations for the disposal of pesticides and pesticide containers. Must be disposed properly by following package label directions or by contacting your local or federal environmental control agency, or by contacting your regional EPA office.
