Chemical Properties
white crystals
Uses
As catalyst in polyamide manufacture.
General Description
White crystalline solid. Sinks and mixes with water.
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble. Ammonium hypophosphite liberates spontaneously flammable phosphine at about 240°C [Mellor 8:880 1946-47].
Reactivity Profile
Ammonium hypophosphite liberates spontaneously flammable phosphine at about 240°C [Mellor 8:880 1946-47]. Some inorganic materials, such as hypophosphites, tend to form explosive mixtures with perchloric acid when hot [Analyst 84:215 1959].
Hazard
Evolves flammable and toxic fumes on heating.
Health Hazard
Non-toxic or low toxicity unless heated to decomposition (240°C).
Flammability and Explosibility
Not classified
Purification Methods
Crystallise it from hot EtOH.
