Ammonium sulfide
Encyclopedia
Ammonium hydrosulfide is the chemical compound
with the formula
(NH4)SH. It is the salt
derived from the ammonium
cation and the hydrosulfide anion. The salt exists as colourless, water soluble, mica
ceous crystals. The compound is encountered mainly as a solution, not as the solid. It is generated by mixing hydrogen sulfide
and ammonia
.
gas through concentrated ammonia
solution. According to a detailed 1895 report, hydrogen sulfide reacts with concentrated aqueous ammonia solution at room temperature to give (NH4)2S·2NH4HS. When this species is cooled to 0 °C and treated with additional hydrogen sulfide, one obtains (NH4)2S·12NH4HS. An ice-cold solution of this substance kept at 0°C and having hydrogen sulfide continually passed through it gives the hydrosulfide.
The common "stink bomb
" consists of an aqueous solution of ammonium sulfide. The mixture easily converts to ammonia
and hydrogen sulfide
gases. This conversion illustrates the ease of the following equilibrium:
Both ammonia and hydrogen sulfide have a powerfully unpleasant smell.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with the formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
(NH4)SH. It is the salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
derived from the ammonium
Ammonium
The ammonium cation is a positively charged polyatomic cation with the chemical formula NH. It is formed by the protonation of ammonia...
cation and the hydrosulfide anion. The salt exists as colourless, water soluble, mica
Mica
The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
ceous crystals. The compound is encountered mainly as a solution, not as the solid. It is generated by mixing hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
and ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
.
Preparation
Solutions of ammonium hydrosulfide can be prepared by passing hydrogen sulfideHydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
gas through concentrated ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
solution. According to a detailed 1895 report, hydrogen sulfide reacts with concentrated aqueous ammonia solution at room temperature to give (NH4)2S·2NH4HS. When this species is cooled to 0 °C and treated with additional hydrogen sulfide, one obtains (NH4)2S·12NH4HS. An ice-cold solution of this substance kept at 0°C and having hydrogen sulfide continually passed through it gives the hydrosulfide.
The common "stink bomb
Stink bomb
A stink bomb or stinkbomb is a device designed to create an unpleasant smell. They range in effectiveness from simple pranks to military grade or riot control chemical agents.The Guinness Book of Records lists two smelliest substances...
" consists of an aqueous solution of ammonium sulfide. The mixture easily converts to ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
and hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
gases. This conversion illustrates the ease of the following equilibrium:
- (NH4)SH
NH3 + H2S
Both ammonia and hydrogen sulfide have a powerfully unpleasant smell.