Content Curator
Ammonium sulfate is an inorganic salt having the chemical formula (NH4)2SO4.
- Its IUPAC name is Diazanium sulfate.
- It is also known as diammonium sulfate, sulfuric acid, diammonium salt, mascagnite, and dopamine.
- It is a white, odorless substance that sinks and dissolves in water.
- This salt is produced by reacting ammonia with sulfuric acid.
- Calcium Sulfate is abundantly available in mineral form across the world.
- Therefore, calcium sulfate is used for the production of ammonium sulfate by combining it with ammonia and water.
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: (NH4)2SO4, Ammonium sulfate, Chemical formula, Density, Molar mass, Chemical reaction, Solubility, Sulfuric acid, IUPAC names
What is Ammonium Sulfate?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Ammonium Sulfate, also known as Diammonium sulfate or Sulfuric Acid diammonium salt is an inorganic salt.
- The chemical formula of Ammonium sulfate is (NH4)2SO4.
- It is odorless and easily dissolves in water.
- It does not dissolve in acetone.
- It appears as a transparent solid white with a salty taste.
- It is most commonly used as soil manure, containing 21% nitrogen and 24% sulfur.
- Ammonium Sulfate is a highly soluble inorganic salt that dissociates into Ammonium (NH4)+ and Sulfate (SO4)2- in water.
- The IUPAC name of Ammonium sulfate is Diazonium sulfate.
| Ammonium Sulphate | |
|---|---|
| Molecular Formula | (NH4)2SO4 |
| Density | 1.77 g/cm3 |
| Molecular Weight/ Molar Mass | 132.14 g/mol |
| Melting Point | 235 to 280 °C |
Ammonium Sulfate Structure
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The structure of Ammonium sulfate is shown below
Ammonium Sulfate Structure
Preparation of Ammonium Sulfate
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The method of preparation of Ammonium sulfate is given below
- Ammonium sulfate is found naturally from the mineral mascagnite in volcanic fumaroles and as a result of coal burns on certain dumps.
- Ammonium sulfate can be prepared by performing a reaction between finely divided gypsum and an ammonium carbonate solution.
(NH4)2CO3 + CaSO4 → (NH4)2SO4 + CaCO3
- It is also formed by reacting ammonia with sulfuric acid.
2 NH3 + H2SO4 → (NH4)2SO4
Physical Properties of Ammonium Sulfate
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The following are the physical properties of Ammonium Sulfate
- The Molecular weight of Ammonium sulfate is 132.14 gm/mol.
- Ammonium sulfate is insoluble in acetone, alcohol, and ether, but it is soluble in water.
- The solubility of Ammonium sulfate is found to be about 70.6 gm/ 100 gm water at 0 ºC and 103.8 g/ 100 gm water at 100 ºC.
- It is majorly used as a fertilizer for alkaline soil types.
| Physical Properties of Ammonium Sulfate | |
|---|---|
| Flammable/Non-flammable | non-flammable |
| Appears | Fine white crystals or hygroscopic granules |
| Odor | odorless |
| Solubility | Insoluble in acetone, alcohol, and ether |
| Crystal structure | orthorhombic |
| Magnetic Susceptibility | −67.0 × 10−6 cm3/mol |
Chemical Properties of Ammonium Sulfate
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The following are the chemical properties of Ammonium Sulfate
- Ammonium sulfate decomposes when heated at a temperature of more than 250 degrees Celsius and forms Ammonium bisulfate.
- Heating at further higher temperatures results in the decomposition of ammonium sulfate into ammonia, nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and water.
(NH4)2 SO4 → (NH4) HSO4 + NH3
- At temperatures less than -49.5 degrees Celsius, Ammonium sulfate shows ferroelectric behavior.
- At normal room temperature, it crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal lattice.
- On mixing ammonium sulfate solution with equimolar solutions of metal sulfates and then slowly evaporating the solution, ammonium sulfate forms many double salts.
Uses of Ammonium Sulfate
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The following are the uses of Ammonium Sulfate
- Ammonium sulfate is majorly used as a food additive.
- It is perceived as protected (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and in the European Union as a food additive.
- It is also used as the acidity controller in flour and bread.
- It is typically used in the chemical fractionation of Protein compounds.
- The dissolvability of the proteins is directly proportional to the quality of expansion in the ionic solution of ammonium sulfate.
- Ammonium sulfate is highly dissolvable in water because of its ionic nature, and as a result, it "salts out" the precipitated protein.
- It is used for the purpose of precipitation of various ammonium salts and ammonium persulfate.
- It has applications as a cleaning additive and as a flame retardant as well.
- It also works as a pH controller for various cultures and solutions.
- Ammonium sulfate is utilized to treat drinking water after blending with chlorine producing monochloramine as a result of the disinfection.
- It is even recorded as an essential ingredient for vaccines in the United States as per the Centre for Disease Control.
Things to Remember
- The chemical formula of Ammonium sulfate is (NH4)2SO4.
- It is also known as diammonium sulfate, sulfuric acid, diammonium salt, mascagnite, and dopamine.
- It appears as a transparent solid white with a salty taste.
- The IUPAC name of Ammonium sulfate is Diazonium sulfate.
- The Molecular weight of Ammonium sulfate is 132.14gm/mol.
- Ammonium sulfate decomposes when heated at a temperature of more than 250 degrees Celsius and forms Ammonium bisulfate.
- Ammonium sulfate is majorly used as a food additive.
Also Read:
Sample Questions
Ques. Why is Ammonium sulfate no longer used as a wood preservative? (2 Marks)
Ans. Earlier, Ammonium sulfate was used as a wood preservative being hygroscopic. However, its use as a wood preservative was discontinued because it is hygroscopic and led to problems like metal clasp corrosion, uneven finish, and unsteady dimensions.
Ques. What will be the structure of (NH4)2SO4? (2 Marks)
Ans. In (NH4)2SO4, 2 molecules of NH4(+) donate 1-1 electrons to SO4(2-) to complete the octet of Sulphate ions, forming an ionic bond between the two. In this way, we get a molecule of ammonium sulfate.
Ques. How is ammonium sulfate used as a flame retardant? (3 Marks)
Ans. Ammonium sulfate is used as a flame retardant acting. As a flame retardant, it builds the ignition temperature of the material, diminishes the most significant weight reduction rate, and leads to expansion for the buildup or burn. Its capability as a flame retardant can be uplifted by mixing it with ammonium sulfate. Hence, it has been used in flying firefighting.
Ques. What is the method of industrial Preparation of Ammonium sulfate? (2 Marks)
Ans. Ammonium sulfate is industrially prepared by adding finely refined and broken gypsum to an ammonium carbonate solution.
It can also be prepared by treating ammonia (NH3) with sulphuric acid (S2SO4).
2NH3 + H2SO4 → (NH4)2SO4
Ques. What is the behavior of Ammonium sulfate at high temperatures? (2 Marks)
Ans. At high temperatures, i.e., above 250 degrees Celsius, Ammonium sulfate decomposes, forming ammonium bisulfate. If heated to further high temperatures, decomposition leads to the formation of ammonia, nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and water.
Ques. What is the laboratory use of Ammonium sulfate? (2 Marks)
Ans. Ammonium sulfate precipitation is a widespread lab implementation of Ammonium sulfate for protein purification through precipitation.
Ques. What if a human consumed ammonium sulfate? (2 Marks)
Ans. Ammonium sulfate is very harmful to both the environment and humans. If consumed by humans, it may lead to irritation in the gastrointestinal tract causing nausea and vomiting.
Ques. Is ammonium sulfate an acid or a base? (2 Marks)
Ans. Ammonium sulfate is formed as a result of the reaction between sulphuric acid and ammonium hydroxide. Sulphuric acid is a strong base, and ammonium hydroxide is a weak base. Hence, as a resultant salt formed, ammonium sulfate is acidic.
Ques. Is ammonium oxalate soluble in water? (2 Marks)
Ans. Ammonium oxalate is a water-soluble white crystalline substance. It is often classed as a monohydrate. At 20°C, ammonium oxalate has a density of 1.5 g/cm3.
Ques. What is the primary implementation of ammonium sulfate in the market? (3 Marks)
Ans. Ammonium sulfate is used as fertilizer in vast quantities. It acts as a fertilizer for alkaline soil types. When mixed in the damp soil, it releases an ammonium ion. These ions create a small amount of acid in the soil, assisting in bringing down the pH of the alkaline soil. It balances the pH of the soil and makes it suitable for crop growth or farming. Further, it also adds nitrogen to the soil leading to better plant growth.
For Latest Updates on Upcoming Board Exams, Click Here: https://t.me/class_10_12_board_updates
Check-Out:
Comments