Ammonium butyrate

Ammonium butyrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula C₃H₇COONH₄. This is an organic ammonium salt of butyric acid.^[1]

Ammonium butyrate

Names
IUPAC name azanium;butanoate
Other names Ammonium butanoate
Identifiers
CAS Number	14287-04-8 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	24785
ECHA InfoCard	100.034.718
EC Number	238-207-5
PubChem CID	26607
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID60884742
InChI InChI=1S/C4H8O2.H3N/c1-2-3-4(5)6;/h2-3H2,1H3,(H,5,6);1H3 Key: YNTQKXBRXYIAHM-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES C(C(O)=O)CC.N
Properties
Chemical formula	C4H11NO2
Molar mass	105.137 g·mol−1
Appearance	Yellow-white powder
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Synthesis

The compound can be prepared by reacting dry ammonia gas with butyric acid in ether:^[2]

NH₃ + C₃H₇COOH → C₃H₇COONH₄↓

Chemical properties

It can react with ammonia to form an ammine compound C₃H₇COONH₄·xNH₃ at low temperatures.^[3]

Heating ammonium butyrate with phosphorus pentoxide produces butyronitrile C₃H₇CN.^[4]

Uses

The compound is used as an emulsifying agent for leather, oils, soaps, and for textile finishing.^[5]

Also, it can be used as a mineralizer for growing calcite single crystals.^[6]