General Description
A white crystalline solid. The primary hazard is the threat to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. AMMONIUM ACETATE(631-61-8) is used in chemical analysis, in pharmaceuticals, in preserving foods, and for other uses.
Reactivity Profile
AMMONIUM ACETATE causes the decomposition of sodium hypochlorite within a few seconds [Mellor 2 Supp. 1:550 1956].
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble.
Health Hazard
Inhalation of dust irritates nose and mouth. Ingestion irritates mouth and stomach. Contact with dust causes irritation of eyes and mild irritation of skin.
Potential Exposure
Ammonium acetate is used as a chemical
reagent, to make drugs; foam rubber; vinyl plastics;
explosives, and to preserve foods. An environmental threat.
Fire Hazard
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Irritating vapors of ammonia acetic acid, and nitrogen oxides may form in fires.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If
this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin
rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation
mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart
action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention.
Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do
not make an unconscious person vomit. Medical observation
is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure,
as pulmonary edema may be delayed. As first aid for
pulmonary edema, a doctor or authorized paramedic may consider
administering a drug or other inhalation therapy.
Shipping
UN3077 Environmentally hazardous substances,
solid, n.o.s., Hazard class: 9; Labels: 9-Miscellaneous hazardous
material, Technical Name Required.
Incompatibilities
Combustible solid. Incompatible with
oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates,
perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may
cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials,
strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides, sodium
hypochlorite, potassium chlorate, sodium nitrite.
Chemical Properties
Ammonium acetate is a white, deliquescent crystalline solid with a slightly acetic odor. It is used as a reagent in analytical chemistry for determining lead and iron content，a chemical intermediate in manufacturing acetamide. It is also a diuretic in veterinary medicine, in other drugs, in textile dyeing, in meat preservative, in foam rubbers, in vinyl plastics, in stripping explosives, and in determining lead and iron content.
Physical properties
White crystalline solid; deliquescent; melts at 114°C; decomposes at elevated temperatures; density 1.17 g/cm3 at 20°C, density of a 10% solution 1.022 g/mL, and a 50% solution 1.092 g/mL; very soluble in cold water (1,480 g/L at 4°C); also soluble in cold alcohol and acetone (78.9 g/L in methanol at 15°C); solution loses ammonia on standing and becomes acidic.
Uses
Ammonium acetate is used in the manufacture of acetamide and as a diuretic and diaphoretic in medical applications. The wool industry also uses this salt as a dye mordant.
Buffer solution; determination of lead and iron; separating lead sulfate from other sulfates.
Definition
ChEBI: Ammonium acetate is an ammonium salt obtained by reaction of ammonia with acetic acid. A deliquescent white crystalline solid, it has a relatively low melting point (114℃) for a salt. Used as a food acidity regulator, although no longer approved for this purpose in the EU. It has a role as a food acidity regulator and a buffer. It is an acetate salt and an ammonium salt.
Preparation
Ammonium acetate is manufactured by neutralizing acetic acid with ammonium carbonate or by passing ammonia gas into glacial acetic acid. Acidic ammonium acetate, CH3CO2NH4.CH3CO2H[25007-86-7], is manufactured by dissolving the neutral salt in acetic acid.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Biochem/physiol Actions
Ammonium acetate can be used in proteinaceous baits and in beer waste to increase their attraction to Ceratitis capitate. It helps in the progression of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation when it is used as the only nitrogen source.
Purification Methods
Crystallise it twice from anhydrous acetic acid, and dry under vacuum for 24hours at 100o [Proll & Sutcliff Trans Faraday Soc 57 1078 1961].
