Ammonium oxalate Formula

Ammonium oxalate, also known as diammonium ethanedioate is the salt of oxalic acid with
ammonium. It is a common salt used in analysis to determine metal concentrations.
Formula and structure: The chemical formula of ammonium oxalate is (NH4)2C2O4 or
NH4OOCCOONH4. Its molecular formula is C2H8N2O4. And its molar mass is 124.096 g
mol-1. Oxalate (C2O4)-2 is formed from oxalic acid through the dissociation two acidic
hydrogens to form an anion. Two ammonium (NH4)+ are in the molecule as cations: one
ammonium to substitute each hydrogen lost. Its chemical structure can be written as below, in
the common representations used for organic molecules.

Occurrence: Ammonium oxalate is a constituent of some types of kidney stone. It is found

in "guano", which is the accumulation of seabirds, seals or/and bat. It mixture is nitrogen-
rich, particularly because the high concentration of ammonium oxalate and urate,
consequently can be used as fertilizer and fungicide for plants.
Preparation: Ammonium oxalate can be prepared from a neutralization of a oxalic acid in
water. Ammonium carbonate or ammonium hydroxide can be used as ammonium source. In
the first reaction, CO2 is produces secondary product.
(NH4)2CO3 + H2C2O4 (NH4)2C2O4 + CO2 + H2O
2NH4OH + H2C2O4 (NH4)2C2O4 + 2H2O
Physical properties: Ammonium oxalate is a colorless crystalline powder. It is non-volatile
and odorless salt. Its melting point is 131-135 C. It is moderately soluble in water and its
density is 1.50 g mL-1.
Chemical properties: In solution where the oxalate anion is dissociated, the negative charge
is delocalized by the 4 oxygen atoms of ion, forming a very stable chemical specie. Reaching
this stable conformation requires all the oxalate atoms have sp2 orbitals. Interestingly,
dissociation of oxalic acid forms the oxalate dianion (each charge under carboxylic oxygen);
however it can be possible to lose only one proton resulting in the anion hydrogen oxalate
(HC2O4-), which can form monobasic oxalate salts similar to oxalate salts.
Uses: Ammonium oxalate is used in blood test, where is added to avoid the coagulation of
plasma. Consequently, with the oxalate to form complex with some metals, ammonium
oxalate is used to quantify calcium and lead ions concentration in blood and other samples. It
is very used in industry to manufacture explosive and polishing substances. Similarly to
sodium acetate, ammonium oxalate is also a buffering reagent.
 Health effects/safety hazards: Ammonium oxalate can cause skin irritation and corrosion.
In eyes, it can cause serious damage. This salt is also combustible and when heated, produces
toxic and corrosive fumes including ammonia and nitrogen oxides.

Format: Abstract

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J Colloid Interface Sci. 2002 Aug 1;252(1):66-76.

The mechanism of hemolysis by surfactants: effect of solution composition.
Shalel S1, Streichman S, Marmur A.
Author information
Abstract
The effect of ionic strength, solute size, and osmolarity of the suspending solution on
surfactant-induced erythrocyte hemolysis was studied. Two possible mechanisms of
hemolysis were considered: osmotic lysis (affected by solute particle size) and solubilization
(not affected by solute particle size). It was found that the ionic strength of the solution has a
major effect on the hemolysis process, depending on the surfactant nature and concentration.
An increase in the ionic strength lowers the rate of hemolysis induced by DTAB, and
enhances SDS-induced hemolysis. Changes in ionic strength have little effect on hemolysis
induced by Triton X-100. To explain these effects, it was assumed that the changes in ionic
strength differently affect the adsorption of cationic and anionic surfactants to the membrane.
The change in the amount of adsorbed surfactant either influences the rate of osmotic
hemolysis by changing the membrane permeability or induces a transition from the osmotic
mechanism to solubilization. These phenomena were observed for isotonic as well as
hypertonic solutions.

Pengaruh kekuatan ion, ukuran zat terlarut, dan osmolaritas larutan suspensi pada hemolisis
eritrosit akibat surfaktan dipelajari. Dua kemungkinan mekanisme hemolisis
dipertimbangkan: lisis osmotik (dipengaruhi oleh ukuran partikel terlarut) dan solubilisasi
(tidak terpengaruh oleh ukuran partikel terlarut). Ditemukan bahwa kekuatan ionik larutan
memiliki pengaruh besar pada proses hemolisis, tergantung pada sifat dan konsentrasi
surfaktan. Peningkatan kekuatan ion menurunkan laju hemolisis yang diinduksi oleh DTAB,
dan meningkatkan hemolisis yang diinduksi SDS. Perubahan kekuatan ion memiliki sedikit
efek pada hemolisis yang diinduksi oleh Triton X-100. Untuk menjelaskan efek ini,
diasumsikan bahwa perubahan kekuatan ion secara berbeda mempengaruhi adsorpsi
surfaktan kationik dan anionik terhadap membran. Perubahan dalam jumlah surfaktan yang
teradsorpsi mempengaruhi tingkat hemolisis osmotik dengan mengubah permeabilitas
membran atau menginduksi transisi dari mekanisme osmotik menjadi pelarut. Fenomena ini
diamati untuk larutan isotonik dan hipertonik.