Determination of Oxygen in Sodium

Abstract

A method for the determination of sodium monoxide in sodium depends upon the reaction between sodium and excess n-butyl bromide (1-bromobutane) in hexane solution.Sodium monoxide does not react with the reagent and can be determined, after the addition of water, by titration.

Determination of Traces of Oxygen in Sodium Metal by Infrared Spectrophotometry

“…The use of n-butyl bromide as suggested by White et al (15) was abandoned, after comparing the properties of the sodium halides formed in the Wurtz reaction. Sodium chloride possesses certain advantages: It is nonhygroscopic; because of the low atomic weight of sodium chloride, greater absorption is obtained for the same amount of carbonate as compared with sodium bromide.…”

“…In current research with liquid metal systems the alkyl halide method of White et al (15) was required to be reliable between 0 and 100 p.p.m. of oxygen by weight.…”

Status of Methods for Determining Carbon, Oxygen and Nitrogen in Alkali Metals

“…The alkyl halide method of White, et al (34) and the Karl Fischer approach of Sax and Steinmetz (22) are troubled by high blanks and by ill defined side reactions. These difficulties have been overcome or taken into account in some laboratories for specific applications.…”

A Review of the Chemical, Physical, and Thermal Properties of Lithium that are Related to its Use in Fusion Reactors

“…The alkyl halide method by White et al 73 involves reaction of the metal sample with an alkyl halide in a Wurtz-type synthesis to produce an alkane and the metal halide. The unreacted oxide is then extracted and titrated.…”