Ammonium propionate or ammonium propanoate is the
ammonium
The ammonium cation is a positively-charged polyatomic ion with the chemical formula or . It is formed by the protonation of ammonia (). Ammonium is also a general name for positively charged or protonated substituted amines and quaternary a ...
salt
Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quantitie ...
of
propionic acid
Propionic acid (, from the Greek words πρῶτος : ''prōtos'', meaning "first", and πίων : ''píōn'', meaning "fat"; also known as propanoic acid) is a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with chemical formula CH3CH2CO2H. It is a liq ...
. It has the chemical formula NH
4(C
2H
5COO).
Reaction
It is formed by the reaction of propionic acid and
ammonia
Ammonia is an inorganic compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . A stable binary hydride, and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct pungent smell. Biologically, it is a common nitrogenous was ...
.
Uses
It is used in several products, which include: fertilizers, water treatment chemicals, and plant protection products. It is also used in different areas, such as: manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, and fishing.
It also serves as an antiseptic, antifungal agent, antimould agent, and preservative in feed industry or food industry.
Ammonium propionate also prevents spoilage of cosmetics by preventing bacterial growth.
See also
*
Calcium propionate
Calcium propanoate or calcium propionate has the formula Ca( C2 H5 C O O)2. It is the calcium salt of propanoic acid.
Uses
As a food additive, it is listed as E number 282 in the Codex Alimentarius. Calcium propionate is used as a preservative ...
*
Potassium propionate
Potassium propanoate or potassium propionate has formula K(C2H5COO). Its melting point is 410 °C. It is the potassium salt of propanoic acid.
Use
It is used as a food preservative and is represented by the food labeling E number E283 in Europe ...
*
Sodium propionate
Sodium propanoate or sodium propionate is the sodium salt of propionic acid which has the chemical formula Na( C2 H5 C O O). This white crystalline solid is deliquescent in moist air.
Reactions
It is produced by the reaction of propionic acid a ...
References
{{Ammonium salts
Ammonium compounds