Ammonium oxalate
Ammonium oxalate, C2H8N2O4 – more commonly written as (NH4)2C2O4 – is an oxalate salt with ammonium (sometimes as a monohydrate). It is a colorless (white) salt under standard conditions and is odorless and non-volatile. It is the ammonium salt of oxalic acid, and occurs in many plants and vegetables.
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IUPAC name
Diammonium ethanedioate | |
Other names
Diammonium oxalate | |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.012.912 |
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Properties | |
C2H8N2O4 | |
Molar mass | 124.096 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | White solid |
Melting point | 70 C (158 F, 343.15 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Infobox references | |
Vertebrate
It is produced in the body of vertebrates by metabolism of glyoxylic acid or ascorbic acid. It is not metabolized but excreted in the urine.[1] It is a constituent of some types of kidney stone.[2][3] It is also found in guano.
Mineralogy
Oxammite is a natural, mineral form of ammonium oxalate. This mineral is extremely rare.[4]
Chemistry
Ammonium oxalate is used as an analytical reagent and general reducing agent.[1] It and other oxalates are used as anticoagulants, to preserve blood outside the body.
Earth sciences
Acid ammonium oxalate (ammonium oxalate acidified to pH 3 with oxalic acid) is commonly employed in soil chemical analysis to extract iron and aluminium from poorly-crystalline minerals (such as ferrihydrite), iron(II)-bearing minerals (such as magnetite) and organic matter.[5]
References
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database; CID 14213 (accessed 15 November 2016).
- The International Pharmacopoeia, p.1292, Volume 1, World Health Organization, 2006 ISBN 92-4-156301-X.
- N G Coley, "The collateral sciences in the work of Golding Bird (1814-1854)", Medical History, iss.4, vol.13, October 1969, pp.372.
- http://www.mindat.org
- Rayment, George; Lyons, David (2011). Soil Chemical Methods - Australasia. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9780643101364.