Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

Ammonium Chloride
Part 4, Monographs for Reagent Chemicals: General Descriptions, Specifications, and Tests
eISBN: 9780841230460
Tom Tyner Chair, ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents
James Francis Secretary, ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents

ABSTRACT
This monograph for Ammonium Chloride provides, in addition to common physical constants, a general description
including typical appearance, applications, change in state (approximate), and aqueous solubility. The monograph also
details the following specifications and corresponding tests for verifying that a substance meets ACS Reagent Grade
specifications including: Assay, pH of a 5% Solution at 25.0 °C, Insoluble Matter, Residue after Ignition, Calcium,
Magnesium, Heavy Metals, Iron, Phosphate, and Sulfate.

NH4Cl Formula Wt 53.49 CAS No. 12125-02-9

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Typical appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . white solid
Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . electrolyte
Change in state (approximate) . . . . . . . . . . . . sublimation point, 335 °C
Aqueous solubility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.5 g in 100 mL at 25 °C

SPECIFICATIONS
Assay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ≥99.5% NH4Cl
pH of a 5% solution at 25.0 °C . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5–5.5
Maximum Allowable
Insoluble matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.005%
Residue after ignition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01%
Calcium (Ca) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.001%
Magnesium (Mg) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ppm
Heavy metals (by ICP–OES) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ppm
Iron (Fe) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ppm
Phosphate (PO4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ppm
Sulfate (SO4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.002%

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4020
© 2017 American Chemical Society A ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4
ACS Reagent Chemicals Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

TESTS
Assay
(By argentimetric titration of chloride content). Weigh accurately about 0.25 g, and dissolve in 50 mL of water in a 250 mL
glass-stoppered flask. Add 1 mL of dichlorofluorescein indicator solution. While stirring, titrate with 0.1 N silver nitrate
volumetric solution. The silver chloride flocculates, and the mixture changes to a pink color. One milliliter of 0.1 N silver
nitrate corresponds to 0.005349 g of NH4Cl.

pH of a 5% Solution at 25.0 °C
[Part 2: Direct Electrometric Methods; pH Potentiometry; pH Range; Procedure for pH of a 5% Solution at 25.0 °C].

Insoluble Matter
[Part 2: Gravimetric Methods; Insoluble Matter]. Use 20.0 g dissolved in 200 mL of water.

Residue after Ignition

[Part 2: Gravimetric Methods; Residue after Ignition]. Ignite 10.0 g.

Calcium and Magnesium

(By flame AAS, [Part 2: Trace and Ultratrace Elemental Analysis; Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; Analysis; Procedure for
Flame AAS]).

For the Determination of Calcium and Magnesium

S a m p l e S t o c k S o l u t i o n . Dissolve 10.0 g of sample in 80 mL of water, and warm to room temperature. Transfer to a

100 mL volumetric flask, and dilute to the mark with water (1 mL = 0.10 g).

For the Determination of Calcium and Magnesium

Element Wavelength (nm) Sample Wt (g) Standard Added Flame Type* Background
(mg) Correction
Ca 422.7 2.0 0.02; 0.04 N/A No
Mg 285.2 2.0 0.01; 0.02 A/A Yes
*A/A is air/acetylene; N/A is nitrous oxide/acetylene.

†
For the Determination of Heavy Metals, Iron, Phosphate, and Sulfate
S a m p l e S o l u t i o n A . Dissolve 25.0 g in 75 mL of water, and add about 10 mg of sodium carbonate, 10 mL of hydrogen
peroxide, and 50 mL of nitric acid.

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4020
© 2017 American Chemical Society B ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4
ACS Reagent Chemicals Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

B l a n k S o l u t i o n B . To 75 mL of water, add about 10 mg of sodium carbonate, 10 mL of hydrogen peroxide, and 50 mL

of nitric acid.

Digest sample solution A and blank solution B in covered beakers on a hot plate (~100 °C) until reaction ceases,
uncover, and evaporate to dryness. Dissolve the two residues in separate 5 mL portions of 1 N acetic acid and 50 mL of
water, filter if necessary, and dilute with water to 100 mL (1 mL of sample solution A = 0.25 g).

Heavy Metals†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Heavy Metals (as Lead); Procedure for Heavy Metals, Method 1]. Dilute 16 mL of
sample solution A (4 g sample) with water to 25 mL. Use 16 mL of blank solution B to prepare the standard solution.

Iron†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Iron; Procedure for Iron, Method 1 (Ammonium Thiocyanate)]. Use 20 mL of sample
solution A (5 g sample). Prepare the standard with 20 mL of blank solution B.

Phosphate†
(Page 80[Part 2: Trace and Ultratrace Elemental Analysis; Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-
OES); Preconcentration of Ultratrace-Grade Reagents for Analysis by ICP-OES]. Use 2.0 g. sample.

Sulfate†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Sulfate; Procedure for Sulfate, Method 1]. To 10 mL of sample solution A (2.5 g
sample) add 5 mL water.

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4020
© 2017 American Chemical Society C ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4