Ammonium cyanate

Ammonium cyanate is an inorganic compound with the formula [NH₄]⁺[OCN]⁻. It is a colorless, solid salt.

Ammonium cyanate

Identifiers
CAS Number	22981-32-4
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	2339431
PubChem CID	9793686
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID40177528
InChI InChI=1S/CHNO.H3N/c2-1-3;/h3H;1H3 Key: QYTOONVFPBUIJG-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES C(#N)[O-].[NH4+]
Properties
Chemical formula	[NH4][OCN]
Molar mass	60.056 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colorless crystals
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Structure and reactions

The structure of this salt was verified by X-ray crystallography. The respective C–O and C–N distances are 1.174(8) and 1.192(7) Å, consistent with the O=C=N⁻ description. Ammonium cation [NH₄]⁺ forms hydrogen bonds with cyanate anion O=C=N⁻, but to N, not to O.^[1]

The compound is notable as the precursor in the Wöhler synthesis of urea, an organic compound, from inorganic reactants.^[2] This contributed to the discarding of the Vital force theory, suggested earlier by Berzelius.

NH+4 + OCN⁻ → (NH₂)₂CO^[3]