Description
Sodium sulfate, the sodium salt derived from sulfuric acid, exists in various forms. In its anhydrous state, it appears as a white crystalline solid with the chemical formula Na2SO4, recognized as the mineral thenardite. Naturally occurring as mirabilite, in the decahydrate form Na2SO4·10H2O, it's been historically referred to as Glauber's salt or sal mirabilis since the 17th century. Additionally, there's a heptahydrate solid that transitions to mirabilite upon cooling. Widely utilized, sodium sulfate is a significant commodity chemical.