Sodium Acetate

Sodium acetate is the sodium salt of acetic acid, a versatile compound used as a buffering agent, in food preservation, textile dyeing, and for reusable heating pads (due to its exothermic crystallization). It exists as a colorless, hygroscopic solid, often as a trihydrate (with three water molecules), and is easily soluble in water and alcohol, acting as a weak base to control pH and as an electrolyte in medical applications.