ammonium carbonate

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a water-soluble mixture of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbamate, occurring either as a white powder or in colorless, hard, crystalline masses: used chiefly in the manufacture of smelling salts and baking powder.

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ammonium carbonate British  

noun

1. an unstable pungent soluble white powder that is a double salt of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbamate: used in the manufacture of baking powder, smelling salts, and ammonium compounds. Formula: (NH 4 )HCO 3 .(NH 4 )CO 2 NH 2

2. an unstable substance that is produced by treating this compound with ammonia. Formula: (NH 4 ) 2 CO 3

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Etymology

Origin of ammonium carbonate

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ammonium carbonate

A dozen cleaning agents were proposed before the restorers settled on a solution of distilled water and 25% ammonium carbonate.

From Time Magazine Archive

The brown color is due to the impurities, ammonium carbonate being one of these.

From Human Foods and Their Nutritive Value by Harry Snyder

C. It is prepared by the action of ammonium carbonate on benzoyl chloride.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

Add enough water to make a dough and then 2 or 3 drops of tincture of logwood and 2 or 3 drops of ammonium carbonate solution.

From Human Foods and Their Nutritive Value by Harry Snyder

The filtrate is heated to a boil, and mixed with ammonia and ammonium carbonate, to precipitate the excess of baryta in solution.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 362, December 9, 1882 by Various