© 2026 Nanjing Finechem Holdings Co., Ltd,
All Right Reserved
Substance: Sodium Cholate Hydrate
Synonyms: Sodium Cholanic Acid, Sodium Cholate, Cholic Acid Sodium Salt Hydrate
Common Uses: Many people who work in laboratories come across sodium cholate hydrate in biochemical research, mostly for solubilizing lipids, membrane proteins, or as a component in buffer solutions. This compound looks like a white to off-white powder and doesn’t smell much, helping keep work spaces easy to manage from a sensory perspective. I’ve seen it labeled for storage at room temperature, away from moisture because this chemical picks up water from the air.
Hazards: Many researchers don’t consider sodium cholate hydrate extremely hazardous, especially compared to acids or volatile organics. It can be an irritant to skin, eyes, and the respiratory system. Dust generation sometimes increases coughing or sneezing in the lab. It doesn’t typically cause acute toxicity, but constant or repeated exposure builds risk, particularly for those with pre-existing respiratory problems. No one likes getting careless with powders that can become airborne because particles land in places where personal protection breaks down.
Main Component: Sodium cholate hydrate
Chemical Formula: C24H39NaO5•xH2O
CAS Number: 6004-44-0
Possible Impurities: Hydrated forms sometimes carry minor traces of other bile salts or related sodium salts, though most suppliers pride themselves on high purity for scientific work. Purity usually sits somewhere above 97 percent. Knowing composition matters — not just for accuracy in applications, but to help gauge health impacts if a spill or exposure happens.
Skin Contact: Wash with plenty of water and soap. Sodium cholate hydrate dries out skin and can rough it up during prolonged exposure. Disposable gloves reduce direct contact but do not always stop the compound from sneaking through if you’re elbow-deep in bench work.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes carefully with water for at least ten minutes. Lenses come out if possible and irritation persists, get medical advice. Accidents often happen from brushing dust off goggles and then rubbing your eye.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air. If breathing feels off, get medical attention. Fume hoods limit inhalation risks, though people often skip using them with less volatile powders like this.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water; do not induce vomiting. Rare, but possible, especially if eating near the bench.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, CO2, dry chemical powder, or foam get the job done. Sodium cholate hydrate itself doesn’t burn like some organic solvents, but containers and surroundings might catch fire.
Hazards from Combustion: Burning the compound could create irritating fumes or carbon oxides, so those who respond to a fire should wear full protective gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus. Few people expect a powder like this to feed a fire, but dusts can rarely spark when in fine air suspensions.
Personal Precautions: Gloves, goggles, and some sort of dust mask reduce the impact of spills. Don’t sweep up dry; use damp paper towels or a spill kit to keep dust down.
Environmental Precautions: Sodium cholate hydrate doesn’t destroy sewer systems or common pipes, but keeping any chemical out of wastewater keeps researchers on the right side of regulations. Avoid discharge into drains.
Clean-Up: Collect and place in a suitable waste container for disposal. Many labs set up dedicated chemical waste bins for stuff like this, preventing casual dumping.
Handling: Use gloves and eye protection. Powder spills become slippery; keep workspaces clean and dry. Training new lab members to treat everything as a mild hazard avoids accidents, especially with unfamiliar reagents.
Storage: Seal tightly and store in a cool, dry area. Moisture in the air sees the hydrate revert, making weighing less consistent for experiments. Dry cabinets or desiccators help, but resealing right away prevents slow decay of quality.
Engineering Controls: Fume hoods, if available, minimize dust inhalation. Most lab benches get by with proper ventilation if weighing is careful.
Personal Protection: Nitrile gloves, lab coats, and safety goggles handle almost all risks. Sometimes, people use face masks or shields if they’re dumping large quantities or cleaning up spills.
Exposure Limits: No established exposure limits for sodium cholate hydrate as with many research-use-only chemicals, but good laboratory safety principles recommend keeping airborne exposure as low as possible.
Appearance: White to off-white powder, sometimes crystalline.
Odor: Almost none.
Solubility: Soluble in water; this is the trait that gives it value in dissolving fats and membrane components in biochemistry.
Melting Point: Not usually listed, but reports show decomposition above 200°C.
Molecular Weight: 430.55 g/mol for the anhydrous form.
Other Notable Properties: Because this compound loves water, it’s hygroscopic. Anyone who leaves the bottle open in humid weather will find the powder clumping up fast.
Chemical Stability: Stable under standard storage temperatures and conditions.
Conditions to Avoid: Direct sunlight, high humidity, and strong oxidizers cause most problems.
Decomposition: Heating to decomposition brings risk of irritating fumes and charring. No explosive hazard unless in a fine airborne dust cloud, which is rare in normal lab work.
Acute Effects: Relatively low toxicity, but dust and solutions irritate eyes, respiratory tract, and skin.
Chronic Effects: No clear evidence for long-term damage in humans, though repeated or long-term skin contact might cause dryness or mild dermatitis.
Symptoms: Coughing, sneezing, redness, or irritation if contact occurs. Ingesting large amounts could upset the stomach, much like other bile salts.
Environmental Fate: Like most organic sodium salts, sodium cholate hydrate tends to break down naturally over time, yet releases—even in small quantities—contribute to cumulative chemical loads in aquatic environments. The impact doesn’t reach the danger level of heavy metals or persistent organics, but nobody in the lab likes adding unnecessary waste.
Aquatic Toxicity: Not well characterized, but recommended to avoid significant releases into waterways as a matter of best practice.
Disposal Methods: Laboratories should collect waste for disposal in line with local hazardous chemical protocols. It’s tempting to wash small spills down the drain, but adherence to laboratory rules on chemical disposal means segregating solutions and solids, labeling waste, and arranging for removal by licensed handlers.
Reuse and Reduction: Reducing waste by using only what’s needed and double-checking measurements helps keep the lab safe and budgets on track.
UN Classification: Not regulated as a dangerous good under most transport regulations.
Precautions: Keep the containers sealed, dry, and cushioned to prevent accidental punctures and spills. Ship separately from strong acids, bases, or oxidizers. Many research labs order reagents like sodium cholate hydrate in small bottles, which further limits physical risks during transit.
Workplace Rules: Not classified as hazardous under common regulatory frameworks, but falls under general chemical safety standards in countries such as the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Labeling: Package labeling typically displays warnings for skin and eye irritation, as well as the need for gloves and goggles.
Environmental Controls: Regulations require proper disposal and spill management, focusing on responsible chemical stewardship from lab bench to waste facility. Schools and companies reinforce these rules both for compliance and to build trust in the safety culture.
