Sodium Alginate is a water-swollen, cross-linked polymer that is a product of a simple chemical reaction between monomers. It is a great water absorber, as structurally, the hydrophilic groups are attached to its polymeric backbone. It is resistant to dissolution because of the cross-linked network chains.

It is a white or yellowish powder which is odourless, tasteless & slowly soluble in water. It reacts with calcium salt to form a thermo-irreversible form, because of which it is widely used in molecular gastronomy.