Ammonium sulphate
General Product Information
| Article | Ammonium sulphate |
| Synonyms | Ammonium sulfate, Diammonium sulfate, Sulfuric acid diammonium salt |
| CAS No. | 7783-20-2 |
| EEG No. | – |
| EINECS No. | 231-984-1 |
| IMO | – |
| Tariff Code | 31022100 |
| UN No. | – |
| VLG/ADR | – |
Description
Ammonium sulfate is an inorganic salt. It is a white to light gray crystalline solid that is Highly soluble in water. It is used worldwide as a nitrogen fertilizer in Agriculture because of its high nitrogen (21%) and sulfur (24%) content. It is also used in industrial processes, such as textile treatment and water treatment.
Characteristics
- Odor: Odorless.
- Hygroscopic: –
- Color: White to light gray.
- Grade: Technical.
- Solubility: Highly soluble in water.
- Shape: Crystalline powder or granules.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical Structure | (NH4)2SO4 |
| Molar Weight | 132.14 g/mol |
| Melting Point | Decomposes at 235-280 °C |
| Boiling Point | – |
| Density | 1.77 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | – |
| pH | Approx. 5.5 (at 5% solution) |
Applications
Ammonium sulfate is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Agriculture
Ammonium sulfate is used primarily as a nitrogen fertilizer. It provides essential nutrients (nitrogen and sulfur) to crops, improves soil structure and lowers the pH of alkaline soils.
2. Biochemistry
For protein precipitation (“salting out”) in laboratories and biotechnological processes.
2. Flame retardants
As an adjuvant at the production of fire retardant materials.
3. Water Treatment
As a precipitating agent for the removal of metals and phosphates.
4. Textile Industry
For pH regulation in paint and stain baths.
Interessing Links
- CAS Common Chemistry – Ammonium Sulfate
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- PubChem – Ammonium Sulfate – Chemical information by the National Library of Medicine of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH-NCBI).
- Wikipedia – Ammonium sulphate