Question for the chemists

[Steve85569]

I have been using sodium acetate in my soft bar recipes to help with hardening the finished product. Here's the question.
Can I boil off some of the liquid after I react the vinegar with lye or would I lose the sodium acetate along with the water?
I know that "reducing" the vinegar would result in the loss of acid prior to the reaction.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge.

Steve

 

[topofmurrayhill]

I have been using sodium acetate in my soft bar recipes to help with hardening the finished product. Here's the question.
Can I boil off some of the liquid after I react the vinegar with lye or would I lose the sodium acetate along with the water?
I know that "reducing" the vinegar would result in the loss of acid prior to the reaction.

I'm not a chemist; I just play one on TV.

Sodium acetate isn't volatile, so you can concentrate it if you make it from vinegar. You can also buy it for easier control of how much you use. It's a very effective hardener, as I assume you noticed.

 

[Steve85569]

I'm not a chemist; I just play one on TV.

Sodium acetate isn't volatile, so you can concentrate it if you make it from vinegar. You can also buy it for easier control of how much you use. It's a very effective hardener, as I assume you noticed.

I have noticed! I am wanting to be able to use coconut milk, salt and the like as well so I thought I'd pose the question to those with more knowledge than I.

I will weigh the solution before and after so I can track the Sodium Acetate concentration. It'll be a good way to use the burner on the side of the barbecue.:mrgreen: