Decomposition products of sodium acetate I heated some sodium acetate to a high temperature (about 500 degrees celsius). Upon doing so, I could smell an irritating smell reminiscent of vinegar. I stopped then, assuming they were acetic acid vapors. Are they really acetic acid vapours, and if so, what is the remaining solid?
The fumes are likely to be acetic anhydride, as per this equation:
$$\ce{2CH3COONa -&gt; Na2O + (CH3CO)2O}$$
This smells like vinegar, and reacts with moisture in the air to give acetic acid.