Ammonium sulfide

Chemical properties

yellow to orange fuming liquid

Chemical properties

Ammonium sulfide is a yellow crystalline (sugar or sand-like) material, commonly found in liquid solution, which is flammable. Solution has an odor of rotten eggs.

Chemical properties

The distinct ammonical/sulfurous odor of ammonium sulfide makes it a valuable flavor ingredient. It is used in baked goods, meat products, condiments and gravies.

Physical properties

Unstable, decomposes at ambient temperature; forms yellow crystals below -18°C; hygroscopic; soluble in water and alcohol, very soluble in liquid ammonia.

The Uses of Ammonium sulfide

Ammonium sulfide solution is used occasionally in photographic developing, to apply patina to bronze, and in textile manufacturing. Ammonium sulfide is a very useful reagent in mineral analysis. Used in continuous culture of saccharomyces cerevisiae, useful in a double staining technique for visualization of astrocytes and microglia from brain sections and astroglial cell cultures. It plays an important role to modify the surface of low κ dielectric thin films. It is essential for molecular beam epitaxy regrowth. It is an unstable salt and acts as a selective reducing agent.

The Uses of Ammonium sulfide

To apply patina to bronze, in photographic developers, in textile manufacture, in trace metal analysis.

The Uses of Ammonium sulfide

Ammonium sulfide solution may be used to enhance the performance of type-II InAs/GaSb super lattice photodiodes by surface passivation technique.

What are the applications of Application

Ammonium sulfide solution is an unstable salt with biochemical and textile applications

General Description

Ammonium sulfide aqueous solution is a colorless to yellow liquid, with an odor of rotten eggs or ammonia. Material in aqueous from the hydrosulfide which with acid forms H2S. Ammonium sulfide may be irritating to skin, eyes and mucous membranes and may cause illness from skin absorption. Ammonium sulfide may burn and/or emit toxic fumes if heated to high temperatures.

Air & Water Reactions

Readily oxidized to be pyrophoric in air [Bretherick 1979 p. 120]. Ammonium sulfide is slowly decomposed by moisture giving off hydrogen sulfide, a flammable gas. Heat is generated when the pure compound is first dissolved in water.

Reactivity Profile

AMMONIUM SULFIDE SOLUTION is a strongly alkaline aqueous solution. Reacts with acids to generate toxic gaseous hydrogen sulfide. Reacts with bases to release gaseous ammonia. May react vigorously with oxidizing agents, including inorganic oxoacids, organic peroxides and epoxides. Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic hydrogen sulfide gas is released when solution is heated. If ignited, this will form irritating sulfur dioxide gas [USCG, 1999].

Health Hazard

Inhalation of 500 ppm for 30 min. produces headaches, dizziness, bronchial pneumonia; 600 ppm for 30 min. can cause death. Ingestion causes severe irritation of mucous membranes and stomach. Contact with liquid causes severe burns of eyes and severe skin irritation. May be absorbed through skin and cause hydrogen sulfide poisoning.

Fire Hazard

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic hydrogen sulfide gas is released when solution is heated. If ignited, this will form irritating sulfur dioxide gas.

Industrial uses

Ammonium sulfide (NH₄)₂S is a liquid with an obnoxious odor and because of this, it is not normally used in mineral processing. However, this is the most effective depressant for bornite and covellite. Essentially, (NH₄)₂S dissolves excess sulfur from the mineral surface, that allows other depressants to adsorb onto the mineral surface. In copper–lead separation, from a bulk concentrate containing covellite and bornite, (NH₄)₂S can effectively be used together with cyanide.

Potential Exposure

It is used in photographic developers, synthetic flavors, coloring metals (i.e., to apply patina to bronze); and to make textiles.

Shipping

UN2923 Corrosive solids, toxic, n.o.s., Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material, 6.1-Poisonous material, Technical Name Required. UN2683 Ammonium sulfide solution, Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material, 6.1-Poisonous materials, 3-Flammable liquid

Incompatibilities

Vapor form explosive mixture with air Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides. Evolves poisonous ammonia on contact with strong bases. Contact with acid or acid fumes releases hydrogen sulfide. Keep away from moisture.

Waste Disposal

Add to a large volume of ferric chloride solution with stirring. Neutralize with soda ash. Flush to drain with water.