What is the melting temperature of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)?

Sodium hydroxide, commonly known as caustic soda, has a melting temperature of approximately 318°C. This temperature is crucial for applications involving caustic soda, as it informs the handling and processing conditions necessary to ensure safety and efficiency. Understanding the melting temperature can also impact its use in various chemical reactions, storage requirements, and the suitability of materials used in equipment that comes into contact with it.

The determination of the melting temperature is based on its unique molecular structure and intermolecular forces, which influence its phase transition from solid to liquid. In the context of operational safety and equipment design in power engineering, knowing this property helps ensure that systems can withstand the thermal characteristics of sodium hydroxide without risk of failure or damage.