Ammonium carbonate

Ammonium carbonate

Chembox new
Name = Ammonium carbonate
ImageFile =ammonium carbonate.png ImageName =
IUPACName = Ammonium carbonate
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 506-87-6

Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = (NH4)2CO3
MolarMass = 96.09 g/mol
Appearance = White powder
Density = 1.50 g/cm³, solid
Solubility = Soluble, decomposes in hot water
MeltingPt = 58 °C
BoilingPt = Decomposes
pKa =

Section3 = Chembox Structure
CrystalStruct =

Section7 = Chembox Hazards
ExternalMSDS = [http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/a5688.htm External MSDS]
MainHazards = Irritant

Section8 = Chembox Related
OtherAnions = Ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride

Ammonium carbonate is the commercial salt, formerly known as "sal volatile" or "salt of hartshorn". Ammonium carbonate is used when crushed as a smelling salt. It can be crushed when needed in order to revive someone who has fainted. It is also known as "baker's ammonia" and was a forerunner to the more modern leavening agents baking soda and baking powder.

Production

Ammonium carbonate was historically obtained by the dry distillation of nitrogenous organic matter such as hair, horn, decomposed urine, etc.Fact|date=February 2007

Currently, it is produced by heating a mixture of ammonium chloride, or ammonium sulfate and chalk, to redness in iron retorts, the vapours being condensed in leaden receivers.Fact|date=February 2007 The crude product is refined by sublimation, when it is obtained as a white fibrous mass, which consists of a mixture of ammonium bicarbonate, NH4HCO3, and ammonium carbamate, NH2COONH4, in molecular proportions; on account of its possessing this constitution it is sometimes called ammonium sesquicarbonate. It possesses a strong ammoniacal smell, and on digestion with alcohol the carbamate is dissolved and a residue of ammonium bicarbonate is left; a similar decomposition taking place when the sesquicarbonate is exposed to air.

Ammonia gas passed into a strong aqueous solution of the sesquicarbonate converts it into normal ammonium carbonate, (NH4)2CO3, which can be obtained in the crystalline condition from a solution prepared at about 30 °C. This compound on exposure to air gives off ammonia and passes back to ammonium bicarbonate.It has pH of 9

Uses

As well as in smelling salts, as mentioned, ammonium carbonate is still used for leavening in particular recipes, particular northern European and Scandinavian. It can sometimes be substituted with baking powder, but the finished product will never be as airy and light as the original recipe. Icelandic loftkökur (air biscuits) for instance simply cannot be made with anything other than ammonium carbonate.

Buckleys cough syrup from Canada also uses ammonium carbonate as an active ingredient intended to help relieve symptoms of bronchitis.

ee also

*Smelling salts

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ammonium carbonate — n a carbonate of ammonium specif the commercial mixture of the bicarbonate and carbamate used esp. in smelling salts * * * [NF] a mixture of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbamate in varying proportions, used as an ingredient of aromatic… …   Medical dictionary

  • ammonium carbonate — amonio karbonatas statusas T sritis chemija formulė (NH₄)₂CO₃ atitikmenys: angl. ammonium carbonate rus. аммония карбонат ryšiai: sinonimas – diamonio trioksokarbonatas …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • ammonium carbonate — noun a carbonate of ammonium; used in the manufacture of smelling salts and baking powder and ammonium compounds • Hypernyms: ↑carbonate …   Useful english dictionary

  • ammonium carbonate — noun Date: circa 1829 a carbonate of ammonium; specifically the commercial mixture of the bicarbonate and carbamate used especially in smelling salts …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • ammonium carbonate — ammo′nium car′bonate n. chem. a water soluble mixture of carbonate and carbamate of ammonium: used chiefly in smelling salts and baking powder; hartshorn • Etymology: 1880–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • ammonium carbonate — Chem. a water soluble mixture of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbamate, occurring either as a white powder or in colorless, hard, crystalline masses: used chiefly in the manufacture of smelling salts and baking powder. [1880 85] * * * …   Universalium

  • ammonium carbonate — noun The ammonium salt of carbonic acid, (NH)CO; a white powder, smelling of ammonia, used in the preparation of smelling salts and baking powder …   Wiktionary

  • ammonium carbonate — /əˌmoʊniəm ˈkabəneɪt/ (say uh.mohneeuhm kahbuhnayt) noun an ammonium salt of carbonic acid …  

  • Ammonium bicarbonate — Ammonium bicarbonate …   Wikipedia

  • Carbonate d'ammonium — Général …   Wikipédia en Français

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