What is the role of sodium sulfite in the experimental procedure of the creation

Question

What is the role of sodium sulfite in the experimental procedure of the creation of Benzoic acid. -I know that it breaks down any remaining bleach that did not react, but can someone please explain how it works and show an equation to how it works.

Explanation / Answer

The sodium sulfate plays a limited role in the melting of benzoic (freezing point depression); however, it appears (not too surprising) that sodium sulfate has limited solubility in molten benzoic acid. The reaction would be: 2 benzoic acid + sodium sulfate -----> 2 sodium benzoate + H2SO4. So I'd guess that the solid remaining is sodium sulfate. You can verify this by trying to dissolve the residue in a solvent -- possibly toluene. Benzoic acid is readily soluble in toluene, but sodium sulfate is essentially insoluble in toluene.

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