Sodium formate

Sodium formate is the sodium salt of formic acid, with formula HCOONa. It is a water-soluble ionic solid used in deicing, textile processing, and chemical synthesis.

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Formic acid: Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid, with formula HCOOH. Sodium formate is the salt formed when formic acid loses a proton.
Solubility: Solubility is the capacity of a substance to dissolve in a specified solvent under specified conditions. Sodium formate dissolves readily in water, enabling brine and process solutions.
Road deicing: Road deicing is the application of materials to melt or prevent ice on roads and other paved surfaces. Sodium formate is used as a less corrosive alternative to chloride salts in some deicing formulations.
Sodium chloride: Sodium chloride is an ionic compound composed of sodium and chloride ions, commonly known as table salt. It is a widely used, inexpensive deicer that can corrode infrastructure more than formate products.
Sodium: Sodium is a soft, highly reactive alkali metal with atomic number 11. Sodium ions balance the negative charge of formate in the salt.
Freezing-point depression: Freezing-point depression is the lowering of a solvent’s freezing temperature when a solute is dissolved in it. Dissolved sodium formate can lower water’s freezing point in deicing mixtures.
Airport pavement deicing: Airport pavement deicing removes or prevents ice on runways, taxiways, and aprons. Sodium formate-based products are used where chloride corrosion is a concern.
Calcium magnesium acetate: Calcium magnesium acetate is a chloride-free deicing salt made from calcium, magnesium, and acetate ions. It is another lower-corrosion alternative used where conventional road salt is undesirable.
Carboxylate: A carboxylate is an ion or functional group formed by deprotonating a carboxylic acid. Formate is the smallest carboxylate, defining sodium formate’s anion.
Eutectic mixture: A eutectic mixture has a composition that melts at a lower temperature than its individual components. Formate-based deicers can be formulated with water or other salts to extend low-temperature performance.