Chemical Properties
-60 mesh, dry under argon with 99.9% purity; amorphous cryst: deliquescent; becomes red if exposed to the atmospheric; decahydrate: needles, becomes red, then brown in air; hexadecahydrate: prisms; decomposes in air to Na2CO3, Se and some Na2Se [MER06] [CER91]
Uses
Sodium selenide is used in paper and pulp industry, for kraft process followed by photographic industry to prevent developer solutions. It finds application as a bleaching agent in textile industry, sulfur dyes and detergents. It is also used to impart color to glass, glazes and enamels. Further, it acts as a decolorizer of glass due to neutralization of greenish tint produced by iron (ferrous) compounds. It plays an important role to prepare organoselenium compounds by reacting with alkyl halides.
Definition
ChEBI: An inorganic sodium salt having selenide as the counterion.
Safety Profile
Poison by intraperitoneal route. Mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Se and Na2O. See also SELENIUM COMPOUNDS.
