Ammonium Bicarbonate
| Ammonium bicarbonate |
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IUPAC name
Ammonium hydrogen carbonate
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other names
Bicarbonate of ammonia
Hartshorn
Baking ammonia
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| Identifiers |
| CAS number |
1066-33-7  Y |
| ChemSpider |
13395 |
| RTECS number |
BO8600000 |
| SMILES |
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| InChI |
1/CH2O3.H3N/c2-1(3)4;/h(H2,2,3,4);1H3
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| InChI key |
ATRRKUHOCOJYRX-UHFFFAOYAW |
| Properties |
| Molecular formula |
NH4HCO3 |
| Molar mass |
79.056 g/mol |
| Density |
1.586 g/cm3 |
| Melting point |
107.5 ºF, decomp.
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| Solubility in water |
11.9 g/100 mL (0 °C)
21.6 g/100 mL (20 °C)
36.6 g/100 mL (40 °C) |
| Solubility |
insoluble in methanol |
| Hazards |
| MSDS |
ICSC 1333 |
| EU Index |
Not listed |
| Main hazards |
Decomposes to release ammonia |
| NFPA 704 |
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| Flash point |
Non-flammable |
| Related compounds |
| Other anions |
Ammonium carbonate |
| Other cations |
Sodium bicarbonate
Potassium bicarbonate |
 Y (what is this?) (verify)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
| Infobox references |
Ammonium bicarbonate, a compound with formula NH4(C(=O)OHO), also called bicarbonate of ammonia, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, hartshorn, or powdered baking ammonia, is the bicarbonate salt of ammonia.
Ammonium bicarbonate is formed as shown below, or by passing carbon dioxide through a solution of the normal compound, when it is deposited as a white powder, which has no smell and is only slightly soluble in water. The aqueous solution of this salt liberates carbon dioxide on exposure to air or on heating, and becomes alkaline in reaction. The aqueous solutions of all the carbonates when boiled undergo decomposition with liberation of carbon dioxide and the substance with which the carbonate ion reacted to form the bicarbonate, in this case, ammonia:
- NH4HCO3 → NH3 + H2O + CO2
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Contents
- 1 Properties
- 2 Uses
- 3 Reactions
- 4 Safety
- 5 References
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Properties
At room temperature, ammonium bicarbonate is a white, crystalline powder with a slight odour of ammonia that can dissolve in water to give a mildly alkaline solution. It is however insoluble in acetone and alcohols. Ammonium bicarbonate decomposes at 36 to 60 °C into ammonia, carbon dioxide and water vapor in an endothermic process (as it is with many ammonium salts) and so causes a drop in the temperature of the water. When reacted with acids, carbon dioxide is produced, while reactions with alkalis give ammonia.
Uses
Ammonium bicarbonate is used in the food industry as a raising agent for flat baked goods, such as gingerbread, digestive biscuit or Chinese youtiao). It was commonly used in the home before modern day baking powder was made available to home bakers. Many baking cookbooks (especially from Scandinavian countries) may still refer to it as hartshorn or hornsalt 12 (e.g., NO: “hjortetakksalt”, “salt of hart’s horn”) In many cases it may be substituted with baking soda or baking powder or a combination of both, depending on the recipe composition and leavening requirements.3 Compared to baking soda or potash, hartshorn has the advantage of producing more gas for the same amount of agent, and of not leaving any salty or soapy taste in the finished product, as it completely decomposes into water and gaseous products which evaporate during baking. It cannot be used for bulky baked goods however, such as normal bread or cakes, since some ammonia will be trapped inside and will cause an unpleasant taste.
It is commonly used as an inexpensive nitrogen fertilizer in China, but is now being phased out in favor of urea because of its relatively low quality and instability. This compound is used as a component in the production of fire-extinguishing compounds, pharmaceuticals, dyes, pigments and it is also a basic fertilizer being a source of ammonia. Ammonium bicarbonate is still widely used in the plastic and rubber industry, in the manufacture of ceramics, in chrome leather tanning and for the synthesis of catalysts.citation needed
Reactions
Ammonium bicarbonate decomposes to carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water vapor on heating; it liberates CO2 when treated with dilute mineral acids:
- NH4HCO3 + HCl → NH4Cl + CO2 + H2O
It reacts with sulfates of alkaline-earth metals precipitating out their carbonates:
- CaSO4 + 2 NH4HCO3 → CaCO3 + (NH4)2SO4 + CO2 + H2O
Safety
Ammonium bicarbonate is an irritant to the skin, eyes and respiratory system. Ammonium bicarbonate from China used to make cookies was found to be contaminated with melamine, and imports banned in Malaysia in the 2008 Chinese milk scandal.
References
- ^ "separation of hornsalt". http://www.studenttorget.no/index.php?artikkelid=849.
- ^ ""separation of hornsalt" translated into English". http://www.tranexp.com:2000/InterTran?type=url&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.studenttorget.no%2Findex.php%3Fartikkelid%3D849&text=&from=nor&to=eng.
- ^ "What is hartshorn?". http://www.ochef.com/539.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
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