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How Does Ammonium Sulphate Fertilizer Work?

Mar. 10, 2025

Ammonium sulfate - Wikipedia

Chemical compound Ammonium sulfate Names IUPAC name Ammonium sulfate Other names
  • Ammonium sulphate
  • Ammonium sulfate (2:1)
  • Diammonium sulfate
  • Sulfuric acid diammonium salt
  • Mascagnite
  • Actamaster
  • Dolamin
Identifiers
  • -20-2 Y
3D model (JSmol) ChEBI ChemSpider
  •  Y
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.076 EC Number
  • 231-984-1
E number E517 (acidity regulators, ...) KEGG
  • D Y
PubChem CID UNII
  • SU46BAM238 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
  • InChI=1S/2H3N.H2O4S/c;;1-5(2,3)4/h2*1H3;(H2,1,2,3,4) YKey: BFNBIHQBYMNNAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  • InChI=1/2H3N.H2O4S/c;;1-5(2,3)4/h2*1H3;(H2,1,2,3,4)Key: BFNBIHQBYMNNAN-UHFFFAOYAI
  • O=S(=O)(O)O.N.N
Properties (NH4)2SO4 Molar mass 132.14 g/mol Appearance Fine white hygroscopic granules or crystals Density 1.77 g/cm3 Melting point 235 to 280 °C (455 to 536 °F; 508 to 553 K) (decomposes) 70.6 g per 100 g water (0 °C)
74.4 g per 100 g water (20 °C)
103.8 g per 100 g water (100 °C)[1] Solubility Insoluble in acetone, alcohol and ether Magnetic susceptibility (χ) &#;67.0×10&#;6 cm3/mol 79.2% (30 °C) Structure orthorhombic Hazards GHS labelling: Warning H315, H319, H335 P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P330, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P391, P403+P233, P405, P501 NFPA 704 (fire diamond) Flash point Non-flammable Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): LD50 (median dose) mg/kg, rat (oral) Related compounds Other anions Ammonium thiosulfate
Ammonium sulfite
Ammonium bisulfate
Ammonium persulfate Other cations Sodium sulfate
Potassium sulfate Related compounds Ammonium iron(II) sulfate Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y   (what is YN ?) Chemical compound

Ammonium sulfate (American English and international scientific usage; ammonium sulphate in British English); (NH4)2SO4, is an inorganic salt with a number of commercial uses. The most common use is as a soil fertilizer. It contains 21% nitrogen and 24% sulfur.

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Uses

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Agriculture

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The primary use of ammonium sulfate is as a fertilizer for alkaline soils. In the soil, the ammonium ion is released and forms a small amount of acid, lowering the pH balance of the soil, while contributing essential nitrogen for plant growth. One disadvantage to the use of ammonium sulfate is its low nitrogen content relative to ammonium nitrate, which elevates transportation costs.[2]

It is also used as an agricultural spray adjuvant for water-soluble insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. There, it functions to bind iron and calcium cations that are present in both well water and plant cells. It is particularly effective as an adjuvant for 2,4-D (amine), glyphosate, and glufosinate herbicides.

Laboratory use

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Ammonium sulfate precipitation is a common method for protein purification by precipitation. As the ionic strength of a solution increases, the solubility of proteins in that solution decreases. Being extremely soluble in water, ammonium sulfate can "salt out" (precipitate) proteins from aqueous solutions.[3][4] Precipitation by ammonium sulfate is a result of a reduction in solubility rather than protein denaturation, thus the precipitated protein can be resolubilized through the use of standard buffers.[5] Ammonium sulfate precipitation provides a convenient and simple means to fractionate complex protein mixtures.[6]

In the analysis of rubber lattices, volatile fatty acids are analyzed by precipitating rubber with a 35% ammonium sulfate solution, which leaves a clear liquid from which volatile fatty acids are regenerated with sulfuric acid and then distilled with steam. Selective precipitation with ammonium sulfate, opposite to the usual precipitation technique which uses acetic acid, does not interfere with the determination of volatile fatty acids.[7]

Food additive

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As a food additive, ammonium sulfate is considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,[8] and in the European Union it is designated by the E number E517. It is used as an acidity regulator in flours and breads.[9][10][11]

Other uses

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Ammonium sulfate is a precursor to other ammonium salts, especially ammonium persulfate.

Ammonium sulfate is listed as an ingredient for many United States vaccines per the Centers for Disease Control.[12]

Ammonium sulfate has also been used in flame retardant compositions acting much like diammonium phosphate. As a flame retardant, it increases the combustion temperature of the material, decreases maximum weight loss rates, and causes an increase in the production of residue or char.[13]

Preparation

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Ammonium sulfate is made by treating ammonia with sulfuric acid:

2 NH3 + H2SO4 &#; (NH4)2SO4

A mixture of ammonia gas and water vapor is introduced into a reactor that contains a saturated solution of ammonium sulfate and about 2% to 4% of free sulfuric acid at 60 °C. Concentrated sulfuric acid is added to keep the solution acidic, and to retain its level of free acid. The heat of reaction keeps reactor temperature at 60 °C. Dry, powdered ammonium sulfate may be formed by spraying sulfuric acid into a reaction chamber filled with ammonia gas. The heat of reaction evaporates all water present in the system, forming a powdery salt. Approximately 6,000 million tons were produced in .[2]

Ammonium sulfate also is manufactured from gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O). Finely divided gypsum is added to an ammonium carbonate solution. Calcium carbonate precipitates as a solid, leaving ammonium sulfate in the solution.

(NH4)2CO3 + CaSO4 &#; (NH4)2SO4 + CaCO3

Ammonium sulfate occurs naturally as the rare mineral mascagnite in volcanic fumaroles and due to coal fires on some dumps.[14]

Ammonium sulfate is a byproduct in the production of methyl methacrylate.[15]

Properties

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Ammonium sulfate becomes ferroelectric at temperatures below &#;49.5 °C. At room temperature it crystallises in the orthorhombic system, with cell sizes of a = 7.729 Å, b = 10.560 Å, c = 5.951 Å. When chilled into the ferrorelectric state, the symmetry of the crystal changes to space group Pna21.[16]

Reactions

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Ammonium sulfate decomposes upon heating above 250 °C (482 °F), first forming ammonium bisulfate. Heating at higher temperatures results in decomposition into ammonia, nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and water.[17]

As a salt of a strong acid (H2SO4) and weak base (NH3), its solution is acidic; the pH of 0.1 M solution is 5.5. In aqueous solution the reactions are those of NH+
4
and SO2&#;
4
ions. For example, addition of barium chloride, precipitates out barium sulfate. The filtrate on evaporation yields ammonium chloride.

Ammonium sulfate forms many double salts (ammonium metal sulfates) when its solution is mixed with equimolar solutions of metal sulfates and the solution is slowly evaporated. With trivalent metal ions, alums such as ferric ammonium sulfate are formed. Double metal sulfates include ammonium cobaltous sulfate, ferrous diammonium sulfate, ammonium nickel sulfate which are known as Tutton's salts and ammonium ceric sulfate.[2] Anhydrous double sulfates of ammonium also occur in the Langbeinites family. The ammonia produced has a pungent smell and is toxic.

Airborne particles of evaporated ammonium sulfate comprise approximately 30% of fine particulate pollution worldwide.[18]

It reacts with additional sulfuric acid to give triammonium hydrogen disulphate,, (NH4)3H(SO4)2.[19]

Legislation and control

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In November , a ban on ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizers was imposed in the former Malakand Division&#;comprising the Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Chitral and Malakand districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan, by the NWFP government, following reports that they were used by militants to make explosives. In January , these substances were also banned in Afghanistan for the same reason.[20]

See also

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  • Ammonium sulfate precipitation

References

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Further reading

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  • Properties: UNIDO and International Fertilizer Development Center (), Fertilizer Manual, Kluwer Academic Publishers, ISBN 0---4.

What are the benefits of using ammonium sulfate fertilizer?

If  you are looking for the answers to ammonium sulphate fertilizer advantages and disadvantages, we can give you detailed explanation as a professional ammonium sulphate fertilizer supplier:

What are the benefits of using ammonium sulfate fertilizer?

Ammonium sulfate offers many other agronomic advantages over other fertilizer technologies: Lower sensitivity to nitrogen losses from leaching, volatilization and denitrification. Higher nutrient efficiency. Contains sulfur that is readily available to plants.

What are the disadvantages of ammonium?

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Lvwang Ecological Fertilizer supply professional and honest service.

Disadvantages of ammonium sulfate fertilizer at a glance. 1. It can lead to the formation of high concentrations of salts in the soil. Applying too much fertilizer on agricultural land can lead to this toxic combination.

Which plants benefit from ammonium sulfate?

Ammonium sulfate and soil pH If you want to grow acid-loving plants, such as blueberries, artichokes or potatoes, lowering the soil pH can significantly improve your crop and the overall health of your plants. Ammonium sulfate has a pH of 5.5, and the sulfur it contains will help a little.

What are the benefits of ammonium?

One of the advantages of quaternary ammonium disinfectants is that they do not damage clothing and carpets like oxidizing chemicals do. They are also non-corrosive to metal pipes and other surfaces.

Are quaternary ammonium salts harmful?

In addition to harming bacteria, quaternary ammonium salts are lung irritants and can cause asthma and other breathing problems. They can also irritate the skin - and can cause rashes. (This is one reason why antibacterial wipe packaging strongly recommends washing hands after use.

Does ammonium sulfate turn grass green?

Ammonium sulfate provides easily available nitrogen and sulfur to your lawn. It helps lawns turn green quickly, helps cold soils, and is relatively inexpensive.

Is ammonium sulfate good for plants?

As a water soluble fertilizer, ammonium sulfate is widely used in crop production because it provides effective nitrogen and readily available sulfur that helps plants grow. By adding general value to alkaline soils, this fertilizer is essential for maintaining healthy soils and vigorous crop growth.

Is ammonium sulfate harmful to plants?

A: Ammonium sulfate is nitrogen, and as such is important in almost all gardening activities we engage in. But it can be bad if used in excess, especially because ammonium sulfate is a chemical fertilizer, and they are more likely to burn plants from overuse than organic fertilizers.

What is the shelf life of ammonium sulfate?

Ammonium sulfate contains 21% nitrogen and 24% sulfur and can be used as a granular and liquid feed, making it a mineral fertilizer product for both cool and warm season lawns. Its effect lasts four to six weeks.

Is ammonium sulfate bad for dogs?

After application, be sure to water the ammonium sulfate well enough so that dogs can not eat any clumps. Keep dogs away from the lawn until it dries out.

What are the disadvantages of ammonium sulfate fertilizer?

Disadvantages of ammonium sulfate. Ammonium sulfate used as a lawn fertilizer has the disadvantage of producing high levels of acidity in the soil. "With the same acidity formed by other common N (nitrogen) carriers, it requires about 2 to 3 times as much lime to neutralize the same amount of acidity," says a report by The Ohio State University Extension ......

Is it safe to use ammonium sulfate in soil?

Ammonium sulfate fertilizers are not recommended when repeated applications and long-term solutions are needed to improve soil health. They can create a buildup of dangerous chemicals and toxins that can be life-threatening in some cases.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of ammonium nitrate?

Compared to other nitrogen fertilizers, ammonium nitrate is more environmentally friendly. The disadvantage of ammonium nitrate is that it can cause respiratory irritation by inhalation, which can be dangerous. Contact with fire can be dangerous as it is also used in explosions. Traffic is slightly difficult.

What can I use instead of ammonium sulfate?

For more Ammonium Sulphate Fertilizerinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

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