Ammonium acetate

Ammonium acetate is a chemical compound with the formula NH₄C₂H₃O₂. It is a white solid, which can be derived from the reaction of ammonia and acetic acid. It is available commercially, and depending on grade, can be rather inexpensive.

Additional recommended knowledge

Weighing the right way

Daily Sensitivity Test

Guide to balance cleaning: 8 simple steps

Uses and distinctive properties

As the salt of a weak acid and a weak base, ammonium acetate has a number of distinctive properties.

• NH₄C₂H₃O₂ 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.
• Can be used with distilled water to make a protein precipitating reagent.

Properties

NH₄C₂H₃O₂ is hygroscopic. It decomposes easily at elevated temperatures into acetamide.

NH₄C₂H₃O₂ → CH₃C(O)NH₂ + H₂O

In this reaction, a salt is converted to two molecular species, which is a relatively uncommon conversion at mild temperatures.

References

• G. Jones, Organic Reactions, 1967, volume 15, 204ff (the Knoevenagel Reaction)