Nomenclature
CAS number: 7646-69-7
HNa; mol wt 24.00.
H 4.20%, Na 95.79%.
NaH.
Description and references
Prepd by passing hydrogen into molten sodium
dispersed in oil or mixed with a catalyst such as anthracene above
250°: Hansley, Carlisle, Chem. Eng. News 23, 1332 (1945). Laboratory procedure by hydrogenating
sodium dispersions: Mattson, Whaley, Inorg.
Synth. 5, 10 (1957). Book: J. Plesek, S.
Hermanek, Sodium Hydride, Its Use in the Laboratory
and in Technology (Iliffe Books, London, 1968) 185 pp.
Properties
Silvery needles; the commercial product is a gray-white
powder. d 1.396. Dec
425°. Dangerous when wet. Reacts
explosively with water, violently with lower alcohols, ignites spontaneously
on standing in moist air. Sol in molten sodium hydroxide, insol in
liquid ammonia but forms sodamide at moderate temps.Use
At low temps where reducing properties of sodium
are undesirable as in the condensation of ketones and aldehydes with
acid esters; in soln with molten sodium hydroxide for the reduction
of oxide scale on metals; at high temps as a reducing agent and reduction
catalyst.