How Is Sodium Sulfide Nonahydrate Synthesized?

Sodium sulfide nonahydrate can be synthesized by dissolving sodium sulfide in water and then crystallizing the compound from the solution in the presence of water. The resulting crystals will contain nine molecules of water for every molecule of sodium sulfide. Alternatively, the nonahydrate can be obtained by reacting sodium hydroxide with sulfur in the presence of hydrogen gas at high temperature and pressure. The resulting product is then dissolved in water and the nonahydrate precipitated out by adding alcohol or acetone to the solution. It is important to handle sodium sulfide and its solutions with care, as they can be highly toxic and corrosive.