NaCHO2H2O

NaCHO2H2O refers to sodium formate dihydrate. It is the hydrated form of sodium formate, an organic salt with the chemical formula NaCHO2. In its dihydrate form, each formula unit of sodium formate is associated with two molecules of water. The empirical formula can be written as NaCHO2·2H2O.

Sodium formate dihydrate is a white crystalline solid. It is soluble in water and slightly soluble in alcohol. This compound is often encountered in industrial settings. It can be produced by reacting formic acid with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate. Another method involves the reduction of carbon dioxide with sodium hydride.

Industrially, sodium formate dihydrate has various applications. It is used as a de-icing agent, particularly for airport runways, due to its effectiveness at low temperatures and its relatively low environmental impact compared to some other de-icers. It also finds use in leather tanning, as a reducing agent in dyeing and printing textiles, and in the production of formic acid. In some cases, it has been explored as a component in fire extinguishing foams. The dihydrate form is generally stable under normal storage conditions, though it can lose its water of hydration upon heating.