Title: Ammonium Carbonate
CAS Registry Number: 10361-29-2
Synonyms: Hartshorn
Literature References: A mixture of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbamate, obtained by subliming a mixture of ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate. Contains 30-34% NH3, about 45% CO2.
See USP XVII, p 941.
Review: Allen, "Ammonium Carbonate" in
Mellor's Vol. VIII, supplement 1,
Nitrogen (part 1) 459-468 (1964).
Properties: Colorless, hard, translucent, crystalline masses, white cubes or powder; strong odor of ammonia; sharp taste and alkaline reactions. Decomposes on exposure to air with loss of NH3 and CO2, becoming white and powdery and converting into ammonium bicarbonate. Volatilizes at about 60°. Slowly sol in 4 parts water; decomposed by hot water; the carbamate portion dissolves in alcohol.
Keep tightly closed in a cool place.
NOTE: Incompat. Acids and acid salts; salts of iron, zinc; alkaloids, alum, calomel, tartar emetic.
Use: In baking powders, for washing and defatting woolens, tanning; as mordant in dyeing; manuf rubber articles, casein glue, casein colors; in fire extinguishers, smelling salts; for separating cacao constituents; as a reagent in analytical chemistry. Pharmaceutic aid (source of ammonia).
Therap-Cat: Expectorant.
Therap-Cat-Vet: Expectorant. Has been used as a carminative and stomachic.
Keywords: Expectorant.
