Ammonium formate (NH4HCO2)- Crystalline

Characteristic

 

Ammonium formate, NH4HCO2, is the ammonium salt of formic acid. It is a colorless, hygroscopic, crystalline solid.




Chemical formula:CH5NO2

Molar mass: 63.056 g·mol−1

Appearance: White monoclinic crystals, deliquescent

Odor: Slightly ammoniac

Density: 1.26 g/cm3

Melting point: 116 °C (241 °F; 389 K)

Boiling point: 180 °C (356 °F; 453 K)decomposes

Solubility in water:(grams per 100g of water)102g(0 °C);142.7 g (20 °C);202.4 g (40 °C);516 g (80 °C)

Solubility in other solvents: Soluble in liquid ammonia, alcohol, diethyl ether

 


Application

 

Ammonium formate is widely used in various organic reactions like Leuckart reaction which involves the reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones. It serves as a buffer in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). It finds application in palladium on carbon (Pd/C) reduction of functional groups. For example, reduction of alkenes to alkanes and formaldehyde to methanol. It is also used to prepare formic acid insitu as well as used to store formic acid by making it as an ammonium salt.