Ammonium carbonate

click fraud protection

This substance is very common in everyday life, but perhaps only in units of chemistry experts, there is an associative link it with the familiar and conventional his "symptoms" that we use in everyday life.

First, ammonium carbonate - is known to be applied to all labels of foods additive E503.It has a synthetic structure, and, as stated, the level of danger to human health is zero.Recently, however, some of the information research chemists questioned.

In the food industry the substance is mainly used as a leavening agent or emulsifier.

Consider some of the chemical aspects of the production, properties and application of this compound.As mentioned, we all know it is more writing on the label as "additive E503", it is of interest to us ammonium carbonate.It - ammonievuya salt of carbonic acid, but another well-known name all of the substances - ammonia.In the initial state to the form it is a colorless crystals, which are very easily soluble in aqueous solutions.Chemical molecular formula is: (NH4) 2CO3.According to the physical properties of ammonium carbonate is volatile, that is a bad connection.For example, even at room temperature and air access agent begins to oxidize by the reaction, that results in a ammonia gas, and the very starting compound is converted into ammonium bicarbonate.Ammonia in the gaseous state toxic.By increasing the temperature of the medium in which the compound to 60 ° C, it has already been decomposed into ordinary water, known to us ammonia gas and carbon dioxide.

This is the most gassing during the flow of the reaction and determines the use of the substance ammonium carbonate as a food additive E503 in industrial production, first of all - in the confectionery.It is also widely used in bread baking and as a substitute for yeast.

In modern chemical industry obtain the substance associated with the heating of mixtures of ammonium chloride.It is also used reverse degradation of the fusion reaction, and the heat produced is not ended, but rather rapid cooling.Initially, ammonium carbonate, the preparation of which was carried out exclusively from organic matter - animal horns, hair, considered as a substance that can be produced only at very high temperatures.

As noted above, some recent studies have become a substance dangerous.This assignment is associated with toxicity of gaseous ammonia.This can simply find out if carefully analyze the composition of ammonium carbonate with an acid and those substances that are formed by the reaction.Thus, during it releases carbon dioxide and ammonia, but ammonia, as mentioned immediately volatilized as carbon dioxide.This leaves only water.Therefore considered dangerous to human health and the additive E503 is possible only with certain reservations - it can be harmful, just being in its original state.

Therefore, the use of this compound as a food additive is permitted almost everywhere in the world.As certification is used to sign the data FSA - State Agency for Standardization UK.

Therefore, the use of additives is so prevalent.In addition to these segments already use, the substance is used for example in the pharmaceutical industry in the manufacture of various syrups naturally - ammonia and other drugs.It is used in the production of wine as a fermentation accelerator, and, especially in recent years, as a coloring agent in cosmetics.