What Is Sodium Tungstate

Sodium tungstate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na2WO4. It is a white, odorless solid that is highly soluble in water. Sodium tungstate is commonly used as a source of tungsten in the production of tungsten-containing materials, such as tungsten carbide and tungsten steel. It is also used in the manufacture of catalysts, pigments, and fireproofing agents.

Sodium tungstate can be obtained through the reaction of tungsten oxide with sodium hydroxide:

WO3 + 2 NaOH → Na2WO4 + H2O

Alternatively, it can be produced by the reaction of tungsten powder with sodium carbonate and air:

2 W + 4 Na2CO3 + 7 O2 → 2 Na2WO4 + 8 CO2

Sodium tungstate has a variety of applications due to its unique properties. For example, it is used as a reagent in analytical chemistry for the determination of phosphate ions in biological samples. It is also used in the treatment of industrial wastewater containing heavy metals, as it can form insoluble precipitates with these metals, allowing them to be removed from the water. Additionally, sodium tungstate is being studied for potential use as a therapeutic agent for certain types of cancer.