Sodium tungstate and sodium polytungstate are two different chemical compounds that contain tungsten and sodium. The main difference between them lies in their chemical structures and properties.
- Sodium tungstate (Na2WO4): It is a simple inorganic compound consisting of two sodium ions (Na+) and one tungstate ion (WO42-). Sodium tungstate is commonly used as a source of tungsten in various industrial applications, such as in the production of tungsten metal, tungsten alloys, and in the synthesis of other tungsten compounds. It is also used as a catalyst in certain chemical reactions and as a mordant in textile dyeing.
- Sodium polytungstate (Na6H2W12O40): It is a polymeric compound made up of six sodium ions (Na+), two hydrogen ions (H+), and a complex tungstate ion (W12O404-). Sodium polytungstate is used in scientific and industrial applications, such as in mineral processing and separation techniques, as a heavy liquid for density gradient centrifugation, and in geology for the separation and identification of minerals. It is also used as a reagent in analytical chemistry for the determination of specific elements.
In summary, while both sodium tungstate and sodium polytungstate contain tungsten and sodium, sodium tungstate is a simple inorganic compound, whereas sodium polytungstate is a polymeric compound with a more complex structure. They have different properties and applications in various industries and scientific fields.
