Hydroxylammonium sulfate

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Hydroxylammonium sulfate
Other names Hydroxylamine sulfate
Identifiers
CAS number [10039-54-0]
EINECS number 233-118-8
Properties
Molecular formula H8N2O6S
Molar mass 164.14 g mol−1
Appearance white crystalline to fine product, slightly hygroscopic
Density 1.10 g cm−3, solid[1]
Melting point

around 170 °C (decomposes)

Solubility in water 370 g l−1
Hazards
MSDS Oxford PTCL MSDS
EU classification Corrosive (C) Harmful (Xi) Explosive (E)
NFPA 704
1
3
2
 
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Infobox disclaimer and references

Hydroxylammonium sulfate, (NH3OH)2SO4, is the sulfuric acid salt of hydroxylamine. It is primarily used as an easily-handled form of hydroxylamine, which is explosive when pure.

Contents

[edit] Synthesis

Hydroxylammonium sulfate can be obtained by the acid-base reaction of hydroxylamine with sulfuric acid:

2NH2OH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → (NH3OH)2SO4(aq)

[edit] Applications

Hydroxylammonium sulfate is used in organic synthesis to convert aldehydes and ketones to oximes, carboxylic acids and their derivatives (e.g. esters) to hydroxamic acids, isocyanates to N-hydroxyureas and nitriles to amidoximes. Hydroxylammonium sulfate is also used to generate hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid from oleum or chlorosulfuric acid.

Hydroxylammonium sulfate is used in the production of anti-skinning agents, pharmaceuticals, rubber, textiles, plastics and detergents. It is a radical scavenger that terminates radical polymerization reactions and serves as an antioxidant in natural rubber. (NH3OH)2SO4 is a starting material for some insecticides, herbicides and growth regulators. It is used in photography as a stabiliser for colour developers and as an additive in photographic emulsions in colour film.

[edit] Decomposition

At 120 °C, hydroxylammonium sulfate begins to decompose to sulfur trioxide, nitrous oxide, water, and ammonia:

2(NH3OH)2SO4 → 2SO3 + N2O + 2NH3 + 5H2O

The reaction is exothermic above 138 °C, and is most exothermic at 177 °C[1]. Metals (especially copper, its alloys and its salts) catalyse the decomposition of hydroxylammonium sulfate.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b BASF hydroxylammonium sulfate product page