Characteristic

Ammonium carbonate is a salt with the chemical formula (NH₄)₂CO₃. Since it readily degrades to gaseous ammonia and carbon dioxide upon heating, it is used as a leavening agent and also as smelling salt. It is also known as baker's ammonia and was a predecessor to the more modern leavening agents baking soda and baking powder. It is a component of what was formerly known as sal volatile and salt of hartshorn.

Chemical formula:(NH₄)₂CO₃

Molar mass:96.09 g/mol

Appearance:White powder

Density:1.50 g/cm³

Melting point:58 °C (136 °F; 331 K)

Boiling point:Decomposes

Solubility in water:100g/100ml(20°C),decomposes in hot water

Magnetic susceptibility (χ):-42.50·10−6 cm³/mol

Application

Ammonium carbonate is widely utilized as a leavening agent in lebkuchen, cookies and flat biscuits. It finds an important application as an emetic and an active ingredient in some cough syrups. It is the main component in smelling salts and an active ingredient in some smokeless tobacco products, shampoos and dyes used in textile industries. It is an important predecessor to the modern leavening agentÂ’s baking soda and baking powder. It serves as a foaming agent for the production of expanded material. It is also used as a reagent for analytical purposes in the chemical industry.