Ammonium Acetate: Properties, Structure, Uses, Preparation, Side Effects

Ammonium Acetate: Properties, Structure, Uses, Preparation, Side Effects

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Sep 30, 2024 11:34 AM IST

Ammonium acetate or CH3COONH4 appears as a white crystalline solid with a slightly sour taste. With the combination of ammonia and acetic acid, ammonium salt is obtained. The chemical name for this salt is ammonium acetate, but in aqueous form, it is also known as Mindelos spirit. Other names for ammonium acetate include ammonium ethanoate and azanium acetate. This ammonium salt is widely used to preserve food. Pharmaceutical and chemical analytical processes. This acetate is most effective when used as an acidity regulator in food. But it is one of the greatest threats to our atmosphere and living environment. Immediate action must be taken to limit the spread of this dangerous sale into the environment.

Properties Of Ammonium Acetate-CH3COONH4

  • Melting point: -114°C.

  • Density of Ammonium Acetate: 1.17 g/cm3

  • Molecular Weight: 277.083 g/mol

  • Viscosity of Ammonium Acetate: 21

  • Molecular Formula: C2H7NO2

  • Monoisotopic Mass: 77.047676 Da

  • Structure of Ammonium Acetate: C2H7NO2

Understanding Ammonium Acetate Solubility-CH3COONH4

It is soluble in water. The solubility of this vinegar salt in water is about 102g/100 ml at 0°C. Aqueous solubility of a compound in water increases with increasing temperature.

For example, its solubility reaches 5330 grams per litre of water at a temperature of 80 °C. This compound is also soluble in liquid ammonia, acetone and alcohol. It is slightly soluble in methanol, with a solubility of 7.89 g per 100 ml at the temperature of 15 °C and 131.24 g per 100 g at the temperature of 94.2 °C.

Solubility of water is -

  • 148 grams per 100 millilitres at 20 °C

  • 143 grams per 100 millilitres at 80 °C

Solubility of dimethylformamide is -

  • 0.1 gram per 100 grams

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Uses Of Ammonium Acetate-CH3COONH4

There is a lot of use of ammonium acetate. In food, it takes the form of an acidity regulator. The alkalinity or acidity of food can be changed or controlled using this food ingredient. It is frequently employed in the Knoevenagel condensation process as a catalyst. One of the greatest sources of ammonia for the Volch reaction during chemical synthesis is this substance.

A class of protein precipitation reagents is created by mixing distilled water and ammonium acetate. This substance also functions as a mobile phase for HPLC, or high-performance liquid chromatography, as well as a buffer for ESI, or electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry, of molecules and proteins. Ammonium acetate is only very rarely utilised as a biodegradable deicing agent.

Moreover, it works best as a diuretic.

In order to prepare samples for mass spectrometry, ammonium acetate, which has a tendency to be unstable at low pressures, is employed in place of cell buffers with a variety of non-explosive salts.

More important applications of this compound are-:

  • It has it’s application in the manufacturing of explosives.

  • Used in the manufacture of foam rubber.

  • Vinyl Used in the manufacture of plastics.

  • Used for a variety of agricultural products.

  • In analytical chemistry, compounds are used in the form of reagents. Used as a reagent in various dialysis procedures to remove contaminants by diffusion.

  • In agrochemicals, ammonium acetate is used as a reagent to help determine the soil's CEC or cation exchange capacity, along with the availability of potassium in the soil.

Preparation Of Ammonium Acetate -CH3COONH4

There are two ways to obtain ammonium acetate.

  1. By the saturation of glacial acetic acid with ammonia.

  2. Neutralize acetic acid with (NH4)2CO3 or ammonium carbonate.

These are the two basic methods for obtaining ammonium acetate, but several new methods have also emerged in recent years.Ammonium acetate acts as an acetamide precursor.

Side Effects Of Ammonium Acetate-CH3COONH4

  1. Inhaling ammonium acetate dust may cause irritation to the nose and mouth.
  2. If you swallow the salt, then it can cause irritation in the stomach.
  3. Rashes can be caused if you make eye contact or skin contact with the compound.
  4. It can also lead to skin irritation.

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