DESCRIPTION

Ammonium Carbonate occurs as a white powder or as hard, white or translucent masses. It consists of ammonium bicarbonate (NH₄HCO₃) and ammonium carbamate (NH₂·COONH₄) in varying proportions. On exposure to air it becomes opaque and is finally converted into porous lumps or a white powder of ammonium bicarbonate because of the loss of ammonia and carbon dioxide. One g dissolves slowly in about 4 mL of water. Its solutions are alkaline to litmus.