Na2CaSO424H2O

Na2CaSO424H2O is the chemical formula for a hydrated salt of sodium, calcium, and sulfate. This compound is known as glaserite, a mineral. It is a decahydrate, meaning it incorporates 24 molecules of water into its crystal structure per formula unit. Glaserite is a relatively soft mineral with a Mohs hardness typically around 2.5 to 3. It often appears as colorless to white crystals, though impurities can sometimes impart a pale color. This mineral is found in evaporite deposits, which are formed when bodies of water evaporate, leaving dissolved salts behind. It can also occur in saline lakes and some salt crusts. Glaserite is soluble in water, and its solubility is influenced by temperature. Its formation is often associated with specific geological conditions involving the interaction of sodium and calcium sulfate-rich brines. While not a widely mined or industrially significant mineral, glaserite is of interest in mineralogy and geochemistry for understanding evaporite formation processes. Its hydrated nature means it can effloresce, or lose water of hydration, under dry conditions.