Sodium Hydroxide is becoming wet when contacted with atmospheric air. What is the reason behind this? Any methods to reduce this? Also which type of container is more suitable for storing it (other than glass as total weight we have is about 200 kg)?
As others indicate, NaOH is hygroscopic. Na cations and hydroxide anions readily form charge-assisted hydrogen bonds with water that are stronger than those between molecules of water that are neutral.
Look for the critical relative humidty in http://bio.groups.et.byu.net/EquilibriumSS.phtml
Above RH=8.2 it will start to attract water and become wet. So you have to make sure that you keep it very dry!
I use NaOH for refinement of nitrogen from water vapour.
I suppose polyetylen container for storing.
As others indicate, NaOH is hygroscopic. Na cations and hydroxide anions readily form charge-assisted hydrogen bonds with water that are stronger than those between molecules of water that are neutral.
Dear Mr Niyas, besides sodium hydroxyde to be very hygroscopic, as all researchers indicated, it absorbs carbon dioxide from atmospheric air. For removing of carbon gas is recommendable soda lime. Soda lime is a mixture of calcium oxide and a bit of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxyde (3%). It also absorbs water, but, sílica gel is better. The mixture can be prepared by milling granules of calcium oxide with sodium hydroxyde pellets. It is toxic. But, there is available to purchase. Sodium hydroxyde attacks the glass too. Hence, you should stock sodium hydroxyde in airtight container of polyethylen containing soda lime and sílica gel. The idea is similar to desiccators. However, you have 200 kg, I understand that this operation is very difficult for this mass. I hope have helped.
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