DESCRIPTION

Sodium Alginate occurs as a white to yellow-brown, fibrous or granular powder. It is the sodium salt of alginic acid (see the monograph for Alginic Acid). It dissolves in water to form a viscous, colloidal solution. It is insoluble in alcohol and in hydroalcoholic solutions in which the alcohol content is greater than about 30% by weight. It is insoluble in chloroform, in ether, and in acids having a pH lower than about 3.