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

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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)