Gourt Home::Gourt :: Ammonium acetate
| Ammonium acetate | |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Chemical formula | CH3COONH4 |
| Appearance | white solid |
| CAS number | 631-61-8 |
| Physical | |
| Molecular weight | 77.0828 amu |
| Melting point | decomposes at ?? K (?? °C) |
| Boiling point | n/a |
| Density | 1.07 g/cm³ |
| Crystal structure | orthorhombic |
| Solubility | 148 g/100 g of water (4°C) |
| Thermochemistry | |
| ΔfH0gas | ? |
| ΔfH0liquid | ? |
| ΔfH0solid | ? |
| S0gas, 1 bar | ? |
| S0liquid, 1 bar | ? |
| S0solid | ? |
| Safety | |
| Ingestion | ?? |
| Inhalation | ?? |
| Skin | ?? |
| Eyes | ?? |
| SI units and standard conditions used unless otherwise stated. | |
Ammonium acetate is CH3COONH4. This salt is derived from the reaction of ammonia and acetic acid.
- CH3COOH + NH3 → CH3COONH4
Uses and distinctive properties
As the salt of a weak acid and a weak base, ammonium acetate has a number of distinctive properties.
- CH3COONH4 is occasionally employed as a biodegradable de-icing agent.
- It is often used with acetic acid to create an buffer solution, one that can be thermally decomposed to non-ionic products
- Ammonium acetate is useful in the Knoevenagel condensation in organic synthesis.
- It is relatively unusual example of a salt that melts at low temperatures.
Properties
CH3COONH4 is hygroscopic. It decomposes easily at elevated temperatures into acetamide.
- CH3COONH4 → CH3C(O)NH2 + H2O
Home synthesis
At home it can be made by reacting ammonia solution with dilute acetic acid and evaporating the water. As long as the heat applied is kept at a minimum, the substance would not decompose. Applying a vacuum would improve removal of the water. It should then be dried.
References
G. Jones Organic Reactions, 1967, volume 15, 204ff (the Knoevenagel Reaction)
External links
"Ammonium acetate"