M-Cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt traces its roots back to advances in aromatic sulfonation at the close of the nineteenth century, growing with the rise of modern organic chemistry during the age of synthetic dyes and pharmaceuticals. Early chemists tinkered with cresols as raw materials for both colorants and antiseptics, but work on sulfonated derivatives didn’t take off until technical demands in the textile and leather industries called for high-performance additives. Laboratories in Europe led early sulfonation work, spurred by the race for improved dye intermediates. Over decades, consistent improvements in synthesis and purification pushed this compound out of its niche and into wider industrial and research applications. Seeing how production scaled as chemists figured out new routes gave me real respect for the iterative slog that gets even “simple” chemicals to reliable, practical use.
Commercially, m-Cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt falls under the category of specialty aromatic chemicals sold for both industrial and research purposes. For daily users, the main appeal comes from its dual nature: a ring structure familiar to anyone in organic labs, with added solubility and reactivity coming from its sulfonic and sodium groups. In the fine chemicals market, distributors pack it in sealed drums or high-density plastic liners, sometimes with extra desiccants to handle its tendency to clump up in moist air. People in water treatment, dye formulation, and electronics rely on its predictable quality and tightly controlled impurity profile.
In my experience, the substance usually appears as a white to off-white crystalline powder with a faint chemical odor, clumping somewhat when left exposed. Water runs straight through dissolving it, and I’ve watched it vanish in minutes during bench prep. The sodium salt form actually steers it away from many organic solvents you’d use with untreated cresol. In terms of reactivity, the compound acts as a strong acid in water, delivering its sulfonic group for further reactions or use as an acid catalyst. Chemists watch out for its steady, high melting point (over 300 °C) which signals the presence of strong ionic interactions in the crystal. Its chemical stability puts it in a small group of sulfonated aromatics that rarely break down unless provoked by strong bases or oxidizers.
Suppliers list purity, moisture content, and sodium content as the main specs, along with acid capacity. Labs pushing for ISO or GMP standards demand precise batch-to-batch consistency, so labels often include high-performance liquid chromatography results, heavy metal content, and microbiological test data. You see standard hazard labels around acidic irritants and the sodium salt’s slight reactivity in water. Storage bins usually sit in cool, dry stacks with self-sealing bags. Product labels tend to include recommended shelf-life, which, with good handling, stretches out for years. Certification logs from suppliers try to keep in step with evolving regulatory filings, changing as new toxicological or environmental information appears.
You find most current production methods using direct sulfonation of m-cresol under controlled conditions that steer the sulfonic group to the 4 and 6 positions. The companies I’ve worked with leverage oleum or fuming sulfuric acid, running the reaction in chilled glass reactors to limit side products. Neutralization with sodium hydroxide or carbonate follows, often done in a jacketed reactor to prevent splattering or runaway reactions. Industrial-scale runs generate byproduct heat, so most facilities have stepped up temperature controls to guarantee yield and purity. Air scrubbers and water quench systems handle the acid fumes, essential for protecting both workers and surrounding neighborhoods.
Having used this reagent on the bench, I’ve seen firsthand how its strongly acidic sulfonic group opens options for coupling with amines, diazotization, or exchange reactions. Researchers looking for more complex ligands sometimes swap the sodium for other cations or convert the acid back to free form by acidification, then extract with organic solvents. Modifications to the aromatic ring, such as halogenation or nitration, often bring surprising changes to solubility and reactivity. Most performance tweaks boil down to changing how easily the sulfonic group can be replaced or masked, and chemists always monitor for trace contaminants building up during processing.
Catalogs and chemical registries tend to use a whole range of synonyms: sodium 4,6-sulfo-m-cresolate, sodium 4,6-dihydroxy-m-toluenesulfonate, and many more. In-house, I’ve heard research teams simply call it “4,6-sulfo-m-cresol sodium salt” or abbreviate as SMCSS. Each supplier seems to have their own variant, which makes double-checking label codes and CAS numbers a near necessity for avoiding order mistakes or mix-ups between similar sulfonic compounds.
Direct contact with this chemical can cause eye and skin irritation, so staff are told to wear goggles, gloves, and coats, just as routine. Fume hoods and dust collectors work as first lines of defense, but operators stay quick to seal any spills since the powder draws up moisture, sometimes forming sticky puddles. Most organizations advise keeping neutralizing agents on hand for bench-level incidents. Emergency response plans also include acid spill kits and quick eyewash stations. On the environmental side, I’ve seen wastewater treated carefully to neutralize acidity before drains, aiming to keep local pH levels safe for sewer systems and wildlife.
I’ve watched this compound pop up in more places than most would guess. Water treatment plants use it as a part of resin regeneration and sometimes as a specialty biocide. Some fine chemical manufacturers leverage its strong acidity as a catalyst in controlled organic syntheses, particularly those needing a little more bite than common mineral acids. Dye formulators and photographic chemical houses have used it in the past as a coupling agent, and it occasionally finds a role in pharmaceuticals during salt formation for easier purification and handling. The electronics sector has begun to test it as part of new etching and cleaning solutions thanks to its powerful yet precise reactivity.
Most recent R&D has zeroed in on improving process yields, limiting side-product formation, and harnessing renewable resources as raw materials. Teams experiment with milder sulfonation agents or seek to run the process at lower temperatures, finding small performance gains that add up across multiple tons of material. In analytical chemistry, new methods for detecting impurities at parts-per-billion levels help both regulatory compliance and long-term health studies. Surface chemists have studied its use in crafting novel polymer blends—sulfonate groups encourage unique electrostatic properties that today’s battery and fuel cell researchers chase eagerly. I’ve seen several graduate students run long series of solvent tests looking for ways to expand this compound’s compatibility, especially for “green” process initiatives.
Years ago, little data existed on long-term exposure risks. Lately, dedicated toxicity research has grown to address both workplace and environmental risks. Rodent studies focus on oral and dermal exposure, tracking acute and chronic toxicity. The chemical’s strong acidity explains eye and skin irritation, but its ring structure shows little tendency to bioaccumulate. Long-term inhalation remains unresolved; industry best practices call for particulate masking and closed handling. Environmental scientists now test potential aquatic toxicity, especially since wastewater can carry low but persistent levels downstream from factories. Regulatory agencies in Europe and North America have stepped up mandatory reporting and disposal protocols with every new data set that appears.
Looking ahead, m-Cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt stands poised for further uptake beyond its traditional niches. The rise of advanced materials and sustainable chemistry fuels new application studies into specialty coatings, greener catalysis, and the design of engineered solvents. Tech companies dig into its potential for fine-tuned surface treatments in electronics and biomedical devices. On the environmental side, R&D targets not just minimizing risks but capturing and recycling sulfonated byproducts for reduced waste. If supply chains continue to shift toward more precise quality standards and transparent reporting, this specialty chemical could evolve from hidden workhorse to more visible technology enabler.
Each time I walk through a chemical storage room, bottles with names like “M-Cresol 4,6-Sulfonic Acid Sodium Salt” line the shelves. To folks who haven’t handled industrial chemistry, these names sound overcomplicated, but they reveal a lot. You get m-cresol as a starting skeleton—a compound better known from disinfectants and photographic developers. Introducing sulfonic acid groups at the 4 and 6 positions, then neutralizing with sodium, transforms that backbone into a salt with much broader utility.
The formula—C7H7SO3Na—summarizes what’s sitting in that bottle. Peel it back: seven carbons, a ring structure, a methyl group, sulfonic acid at the 4 and 6 positions, swapped out for sodium’s steadying influence. Whether you count atoms in a lab or assess product safety for a manufacturer, knowing these details can spell the difference between success and setback.
I’ve toured companies where a single mistake in chemical identity led to unscheduled downtime and piles of lost product. Take the way that sodium salts of sulfonic acids dissolve: tailored to water, stable under typical conditions, and less reactive than free acids. That stability is why manufacturers pick sodium salts for dyes, resins, and even some pharmaceutical precursors.
The formula also makes a difference in compliance. In the US, OSHA and EPA both expect clear reporting down to precise compositions. C7H7SO3Na lines up with safety data, labeling, and inventory tracking. Unfortunately, human error or supplier mislabeling turns small confusion into legal jeopardy or stalled regulatory approvals. I’ve seen more than one regulatory audit unravel projects because an MSDS sheet listed an incomplete or flat-out wrong formula.
M-cresol sulfonates fit right into adhesive labs, pigment synthesis, and as intermediates in pharmaceuticals. Technicians need detailed knowledge because mixing the wrong salt brings unexpected reactions. In resins, sodium m-cresol sulfonate’s ability to disperse and solubilize pigments cuts processing headaches. It solves real-world challenges: reduces clumping in paints, lets manufacturers avoid extra grinding, and protects against uneven color distribution in final products.
Chemical structure plays a role in risk. M-cresol alone can irritate the skin and eyes, but turning it into its sulfonic acid sodium salt often reduces volatility and toxicity. Still, that doesn’t mean wide-open handling. I once saw a spill due to a mislabeled container, and even the stabilized salt had to be contained fast to keep from seeping into drains. Sodium salts in wastewater can mess with municipal treatment plants, so strict protocols help ensure safe disposal.
Reliable chemical formulas back up product quality and user safety. This trust between chemist, supplier, and downstream user gives professionals a foundation. Whether formulating a new adhesive or double-checking a shipment, everyone needs to count on C7H7SO3Na matching what’s in the drum. Routine verification, paired with digital traceability, offers a solution that keeps mistakes rare and trust high.
Regular staff training and updated labeling practices make a powerful difference. Keeping safety sheets up-to-date with the proper formula, using digital inventory systems that flag discrepancies, and establishing clear spill-response protocols collectively increase confidence and protect both people and the environment. With an informed workforce and transparent supply chain, challenges tied to chemical confusion shrink, and operations run smoother—benefiting everyone from production floor to customer.
M-Cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt rarely pops up in the news, but its role touches many areas that matter to scientists and manufacturers. I’ve worked with industrial chemical supply in my career, and I’ve seen this salt play an overlooked but essential part in making various chemical processes smoother. It often sits in the background, but the effects of not having it would quickly come to light in finished products.
The colorants industry often turns to this compound for dye synthesis. Companies working on azo dyes rely on this salt during production. It provides that critical sulfonic acid functionality, allowing final dye molecules to bind better to fibers like cotton and wool. Many textile mills look for stable, washable colors—and those properties start with what happens in the chemical tanks. The end result: blue jeans that don’t fade after two or three washes or uniforms that keep their color in tough conditions. Everyday people only see the color lasting, but beneath that, there’s strong chemistry helping out.
Pharmaceutical producers see this chemical as a versatile intermediate. The prescription medications or over-the-counter pain relievers in your home may have seen M-Cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt somewhere along the line. It helps build certain sulfonamide antibiotics. Some drugs need specific chemical tweaks so the body can absorb them, and this salt brings an easy way to add sulfonate groups. This ends up making medication more water-soluble and easier to process in the body. Regulatory agencies call for strict records regarding every intermediate used, so suppliers need to offer reliable quality.
On factory floors, plating shops use this chemical as an additive for electroplating baths. Copper and nickel plating run smoother with certain aromatic sulfonates on board. In my experience, a plating line humming with this salt in solution means fewer rough surfaces and fewer costly defects. It keeps metal ions suspended evenly, so every auto part, circuit board, or appliance gets a clean, adherent metallic finish. Electronics companies care about every microscopic detail, and this is one area where the impact of the right additive gets noticed.
Municipal facilities leverage this salt as a dispersant or chelating agent in complex water systems. Hard water minerals and heavy metals can gum up pipes, but formulations that include this chemical help keep things flowing. Water plant technicians watch closely how much goes into each batch, since dosing needs precision. Over time, fewer deposits and a consistent system go a long way toward safer, cleaner public water.
Few people outside specialty chemistry circles know about M-Cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt, but its fingerprint stretches across dyes, pharmaceuticals, plating, and water treatment. Sourcing continues to challenge smaller manufacturers, as costs and supply chain issues make reliable procurement difficult. Working together, chemical makers, logistics teams, and research labs can improve storage and handling to boost long-term outcomes. More rigorous quality checks, deeper collaboration, and increased transparency with clients will keep these solutions sharp, safe, and effective for everyone involved.
Anyone who's ever handled chemicals for research or industrial work knows the shelf life and purity of a compound depend a lot on where and how it gets stored. M-Cresol 4,6-Sulfonic Acid Sodium Salt doesn’t ask for any special privileges, but treating it casually puts people and projects at risk. This compound plays a role in dye production and pharma syntheses, so taking shortcuts with storage could throw timelines off, damage equipment, or worse—imperil health. Science has enough surprises without inviting chaos from improper storage practices.
Anyone who’s sorted chemicals at the end of a long day knows the temptation to shelve everything in one place. A quick search through safety data sheets or a chat with a seasoned chemist confirms that most sulfonic acid salts prefer cool, dry corners away from light and reactive neighbors. M-Cresol 4,6-Sulfonic Acid Sodium Salt settles best in tightly sealed containers, ideally glass or HDPE, on sturdy shelves at room temperature. High humidity turns powders into sticky messes, wrecking accuracy and messing up future syntheses. Light, especially UV, can start slow decomposition, setting off unwanted reactions down the line.
I've seen what happens to bottles left cracked open—clumping, yellowing, suspicious odors, and crumpled labels. Lids twist on for a reason. A chemical that absorbs water in the air changes character. That’s bad news for researchers counting on precise, repeatable results. Loose caps mean more than minor irritation—it’s a recipe for avoidable accidents or ruined batches.
Clear and updated labels keep surprises away. I still read handwritten notes from years ago warning about reagents that didn’t get along. Specific storage instructions—cool, dry, away from oxidizers—deserve a spot on every label. It doesn’t matter if you’re the only person in the lab or one of many; labels age better than memory, and logs solve arguments about shelf lives or batch integrity. Always write down the date opened, the lot number, and any quirks observed over time.
Spill kits and gloves never go out of style. Any compound with “acid” in its name plays rough if given the chance. Direct contact can jar skin and eyes, so gloves and safety glasses become non-negotiable. I remember rushing to neutralize small spills because slow responses mean surfaces stain, corrode, or become slick hazards. After a close call, I made it habit to check secondary containment and double-bag any old bottles showing signs of fatigue. These extra steps cost only seconds but keep cleanup simple and everyone safe.
Sodium salts sometimes coexist on the same shelf, but m-cresol derivatives shouldn’t hang out near strong acids, oxidizing agents, or moisture-sensitive chemicals. I’ve seen bins lined with foam cradling especially fussy bottles, keeping drips and dust from hopping between containers. Organizing storage by hazard class—not just alphabetically—spares a lot of headaches. Fire marshals and insurance inspectors thank you, too.
Good storage choices save money, time, and keep reputations intact. Whether you oversee a commercial warehouse or keep a stockroom at a college, training and reminders about best practices pay off. At the end of any shift, walking past orderly shelves—jars sealed, logs filled, and PPE close at hand—feels a lot better than scrambling through a mess hunting for one last good batch. Safe storage isn’t glamorous, but it’s part of what makes good science possible—and keeps everyone coming back tomorrow.
M-Cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt shows up in a range of chemical and industrial settings. It owes its place there to how it reacts and bonds in special applications, from creating colorants to helping in certain laboratory workflows. While it may not sound as familiar as bleach or gasoline, it deserves a careful look just the same, especially if you handle it at work or school.
Most sources point out that this sodium salt brings risks you can’t brush aside. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may bring out redness, irritation, and swelling. The eyes feel the worst of it — even brief splashes can set off sharp burning or visual disturbances. If someone inhales dust or vapors, nose and throat get raw, and for some, chest discomfort follows. Swallowing it is no joke, either; the gut rebels and vomiting or diarrhea is a real risk.
From talking to people in labs and reading established material safety data sheets, I see that burns and respiratory distress have come up in poorly ventilated settings. Chronic exposure raises other problems — not as dramatic, but repeating even small doses daily could lead to more persistent skin complaints or worsen asthma.
No chemical stays in one place. Runoff into drains or spilled powder often flows toward waterways. Aquatic life, already hit by pollutants, does not benefit from the presence of this compound, as even low concentrations have the potential to harm fish or disturb beneficial bacteria.
M-Cresol derivatives tend to break down slowly, too. That long-lasting nature means accidents at storage or disposal sites could threaten groundwater in the long term. Regulations step in for a reason.
Good habits offer the first line of defense. Gloves and goggles, even for brief tasks, cut hazard risk sharply. Working spaces with solid airflow further dilute any fumes or dust, saving lungs and skin alike. Training goes a long way: knowing the symptoms of exposure and what to do in an emergency could mean the difference between a scare and a true crisis.
Storing the compound off the ground, keeping it away from acids and incompatible chemicals, also helps stop mishaps before they begin. Disposal takes real attention. Dumping excess down the drain or tossing containers into regular trash puts waste handlers and the environment at risk. Local and national regulations symbolically draw a line here — send chemical leftovers to qualified handlers.
Clear labeling and accessible safety information help the next person, too. In my experience, a workplace where people know what’s in each bottle and how to treat spills cuts incident rates dramatically. Community and industry tools like the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) bring us closer to a culture where chemical safety grows normal, not burdensome.
M-Cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt sticks around in chemistry for good reason, yet nothing about its use excuses carelessness. With common sense, the right protective gear, and a willingness to respect the risks, it’s possible to use it and keep people safe at the same time.
Walk through any chemical catalogue or browse online suppliers, and labs will come across m-cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt in its most common purity range: about 97% to 99%. That’s the purity grade offered by brands from Sigma-Aldrich to Tokyo Chemical Industry. It doesn’t make much sense for suppliers to produce much purer stock unless you’re dealing with ultra-sensitive pharmaceutical syntheses or high-precision electronics work. Even so, demand for anything above 99% usually sits with niche specialists.
People often glance at that number and move on, but it says a lot about what lands on the bench. Purity, in real life, points to the percentage of the main compound against total mass. That last two or three percent includes water, trace metals, isomers, or even tiny bits of leftover reagents. Each lot tells its own story, shaped by sourcing and manufacturing practices. In chemicals destined for regular analytical work or dye manufacture, that 97-99% does the job. For those running analytical HPLC or involved in high-end electronic processes, the contaminants become a headache. A minor impurity can derail reactions or contaminate downstream products.
Based on experience in a mid-scale lab, even a one percent difference in purity can trip up reproducibility. Sodium salts like this often pick up moisture, and cross-contamination appears if a facility switches production lines quickly. I remember an order from a mid-tier Chinese supplier: the lot said 98.5%, but IR and NMR later flagged an aromatic impurity closer to 1.2%. The experiment still worked, but inconsistencies started showing during scale-up. Others in process chemistry have run into similar situations. The point: order from reputable sources, and don’t skimp on lab checks, especially for larger lots.
Manufacturers publish Certificates of Analysis (CoAs) with detailed impurity profiles. It pays to read these instead of trusting a single printed value. For m-cresol 4,6-sulfonic acid sodium salt, typical specs report total organic volatile impurities below 0.1% and limits for heavy metals under 10 ppm. Still, only frequent testing guarantees consistent quality. Many industry users request routine batch samples for in-house quality assurance, especially if they're dealing with sensitive downstream applications.
Buying from large, accredited chemical suppliers helps. These companies stick to higher standards, with more rigorous documentation. Minority impurities don’t always get flagged on generic spec sheets, so running a quick TLC or HPLC test can save frustration later on. For those running sensitive syntheses, pre-washing or recrystallizing the salt sometimes pays off, especially when documentation feels lacking. Investing in proper storage — sealed containers and desiccators — also prevents shifts from moisture, which eats away at that stated purity over time. Simple steps like these keep most research and industrial-scale operations on track.
Every lab relies on accurate reagents, and purity shapes everything from repeatable science to regulatory compliance. Seemingly small impurities can waste time, money, and grant credibility a hit if not caught early. In my own work and through plenty of colleagues' stories, anyone skipping on supplier reputation, proper handling, or routine checkups learns the hard way. Purity isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about trusting your tools and standing behind your science.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | sodium 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzene-1,3-disulfonate |
| Other names |
Sodium 4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzenesulfonate Sodium 4-hydroxy-m-toluenesulfonate Sodium m-cresol-4-sulfonate Sodium 4-sulfo-3-methylphenol Sodium 4,6-sulfo-m-cresol |
| Pronunciation | /ɛmˈkriːsɒl fɔːr sɪks ˌsʌlfɒnɪk ˈæsɪd ˈsoʊdiəm sɔːlt/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 1300-09-4 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `3D model (JSmol) string` for **M-Cresol 4,6-Sulfonic Acid Sodium Salt**: ``` CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)S(=O)(=O)[O-])O.[Na+] ``` |
| Beilstein Reference | 120923 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:91249 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL273720 |
| ChemSpider | 157021 |
| DrugBank | DB14204 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 03eb1d7f-5e1c-45d2-b144-c47be984dae8 |
| EC Number | 401-110-7 |
| Gmelin Reference | 81677 |
| KEGG | C21121 |
| MeSH | D017942 |
| PubChem CID | 23675448 |
| RTECS number | SN6475000 |
| UNII | 462R7QIT1K |
| UN number | UN3439 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C7H7NaO4S |
| Molar mass | 232.20 g/mol |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.485 g/cm3 |
| Solubility in water | Soluble in water |
| log P | -2.7 |
| Acidity (pKa) | 9.96 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 9.2 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | −49×10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.412 |
| Viscosity | 700 cP (20°C) |
| Dipole moment | 5.23 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 233.5 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -1010.7 kJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Corrosive, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, harmful if swallowed, causes serious eye irritation, may cause respiratory irritation |
| GHS labelling | **GHS07, GHS09** |
| Pictograms | GHS05,GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H302 + H312 + H332: Harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled. |
| Precautionary statements | P280-P305+P351+P338-P310 |
| Flash point | Flash point: >100°C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): >2000 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): Rat oral >2,000 mg/kg |
| NIOSH | Not established |
| PEL (Permissible) | Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | 250 g |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Not Listed |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Benzenesulfonic acid p-Cresol Toluene-4-sulfonic acid m-Cresol Phenol Sodium benzenesulfonate |
