sodium dichromate overview
Sodium dichromate is the chemical compound with the formula Na2Cr2O7. Usually, however, the salt is handled as its dihydrate Na
2Cr
2O
7.·2H
2O. Its chemistry, appearance, and behaviour are very similar to those of the more widely encountered potassium dichromate. This chemical is around twenty times more soluble in water than the potassium salt (49 g/L at 0 °C) and its equivalent weight is also lower, which is often desirable.
general decription
Chromium (symbol Cr and atomic number 24) occurs in the oxidation states 0, +2, +3, and +6 states. Element (0) and divalent chromium, however, are unstable. Chromium (0) immediately produce a thin oxide layer. Divalent chromium is easily oxidized to the trivalent form in air. The trivalent and hexavalent oxidation states are important in industry, which exit in their divalent anions called chromate and dichromate respectively and an chromic anhydride form called chromium trioxide (CrO
3) and chromic oxide (Cr
2O
3).
In industrial, chromium trioxide is called chromic acid. The principal uses of chromium are in the metallurgical processing of ferrochromium and other metallurgical products to impart corrosion resistance, chiefly stainless steel. There are applications in chrome plating, anodizing aluminium, and refractory processing of chrome brick.