How to Make Sodium Acetate From Household Ingredients

Step 6 Grinding

Break up the pieces into powder using the bowl of a spoon.

If the powder seems a bit sticky, put it on another coffee filter for a while to dry out.

At this point, you're pretty much done. There might still be some moisture in the powder but it should be minimal.

Comments

[Ruettiger]

so do I put this on chips? What is this used for?

[julsscott]

can you just buy this stuff at a store?

[gelfling133]

Which stuff? Baking soda, vinegar, coffee filters, dry ice?

[13coolguy9]

can u acctaly use the ice?

[gelfling133]

nah, just fun to play with.

[Dudeyowuzup]

No, it's not real ice, it just looks like ice. It's actually just aqueous sodium acetate crystallized. Its most common use is in reusable instant hand warmers. You can easily look up "reusable instant hand warmer" online and find them. In that sense you can use it, but not as ice.

[frannyrahill]

hey

[sibi5161]

I studied somewhere that Dry Ice is also known as carbondioxide crystals.. So, Is the fake ice formed the carbondioxide crystals???

[CaleByers]

Oh my gosh. What you are referring to as "hot ice" is a supersaturated solution of sodium acetate. What that means is that more of it is dissolved in water than its solubility curve allows for. Since there is extra solid dissolved, when you flex the metal plate in the pack, it causes the extra to crystalize out of solution, releasing a lot of energy.

[lostinmymind]

i don't understand how you reached this conclusion, but sorry, this is different. even though this stuff is sometimes called "hot ice", it's not really ice at all. I think people call it ice because when this substance (sodium acetate), is dissolved in water, and then moved, it "freezes", or becomes solid. When it becomes solid, it looks like ice. but it's really not. Also, dry ice is really friggin cold, and this is the stuff used in hand warmers (aka, it makes things warm). i hope this answered your question.

[GlueyMcGee]

not the same thing at all...touch dry ice for a minute and you will get frostbite. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide hot ice isn't.

[gelfling133]

Would it be reasonable to surround said coffee filter with silica gel packets, or any sort of dessicant, to aid in the drying out? Or would that screw up the process?

[gelfling133]

Just curious, mostly because I'm horribly impatient, and partially because I hoard the crap out of dessicant packets(and tons of other random potential lab/hobby bits & pieces), and am always looking for ways to use all this....stuff, LOL.....

[Bree Tanner]

To use this to make Hot ice, Do you need to place it in the microwave first?

[sugarcandyluv1]

No,I have a video that will show you how to make hot ice.

[Podmodder]

i know this is old, but in theory, i could mix this with water in some sort of vessel and agitate it to create a reuseable heat pack right?

[sibi5161]

So, From 500ml of Vinegar and 35gm of Sodium Bicarbonate how much Sodium Acetate is formed?? As for preparing the dry ice, we need lots of Sodium Acetate, Can we get the whole amount from this experiment itself??

[wildr0se11]

So, just wondering...I was thinking of making this on a stove with a vent to suck the fumes, but this is where we make food everyday and eat it ourselves. Just in case...this bad idea? I don't want little microscopic chemicals in everything going in my mouth. Intelligent insight?

[SpaceCow]

That should be fine. Just don't boil the vinegar alone as acetic acid will evaporate, whereas sodium acetate will not. (in this case anyway)

[quinny08]

Although this experiemnt is very cool. I caution doing this experiemnt at home. Sodium acetate is know to cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. It carries a slight risk of flammability and sometimes is associated with nausea and vomiting. This experiemnt should take place with the use of gloves, goggles, a lab apron, and inside a fumehood.

[Dudeyowuzup]

You mean in concentrated forms, right? Because Sodium Acetate is used as an ingredient in some foods, like Vinegar potato chips, and low-carb chocolates (not sure why on the chocolates, but I saw it there in the ingredient list...)

[littlechef37]

Its the top ingredient in popcorn salt !

[ThunderBolt]

hoo.... im kind of nervous of making this! im just not sure if this will work!

[ilikechemicals]

well thats cool, but i was just looking at youtube and i was wondering if you add this sodium acetate to almost boiling water and cool it for a while in the fridgerator if it would make "instant ice".

[babez104]

that is cool. i saw that video too.

[xxakumaxx]

all u have to do is touch the "hot ice" with your finger and it will turn into ice. :)

[babez104]

that is so cool. i really hope it works.

[GuitarHero998]

good job! thats really helpful!

[stevobayo]

This is better than waiting for ice in the freezer cause water to it and put it in the freezer with the solution and water with it. The water with the solution makes the water turn in to ice instantly. :)

[ajay24]

i hope this works