Ammonium propionate or ammonium propanoate is the
ammonium
Ammonium is a modified form of ammonia that has an extra hydrogen atom. It is a positively charged (cationic) polyatomic ion, molecular ion with the chemical formula or . It is formed by the protonation, addition of a proton (a hydrogen nucleu ...
salt
In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...
of
propionic acid
Propionic acid (, from the Greek language, Greek words πρῶτος : ''prōtos'', meaning "first", and πίων : ''píōn'', meaning "fat"; also known as propanoic acid) is a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with chemical formula . It is a ...
. It has the chemical formula NH
4(C
2H
5COO).
Reaction
It is formed by the reaction of propionic acid and
ammonia
Ammonia is an inorganic chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the chemical formula, formula . A Binary compounds of hydrogen, stable binary hydride and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinctive pu ...
.
Uses
It is used in several products, which include: fertilizers, water treatment chemicals, and plant protection products. It is also used in different areas, such as: manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, and fishing.
It also serves as an antiseptic, antifungal agent, antimould agent, and preservative in feed industry or food industry.
Ammonium propionate also prevents spoilage of cosmetics by preventing bacterial growth.
See also
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Calcium propionate
Calcium propanoate or calcium propionate has the formula Ca( C2 H5 C O O)2. It is the calcium salt of propanoic acid.
Uses
As a food additive, it is listed as E number 282 in the Codex Alimentarius. Calcium propionate is used as a preservative i ...
*
Potassium propionate
Potassium propanoate or potassium propionate has formula K(C2H5COO). Its melting point is 410 °C. It is the potassium salt of propanoic acid.
Use
It is used as a food preservative and is represented by the food labeling E number
E numbe ...
*
Sodium propionate
Sodium propanoate or sodium propionate is the sodium salt (chemistry), salt of propionic acid which has the chemical formula Sodium, Na(Carbon, C2Hydrogen, H5Carbon, COxygen, OOxygen, O). This white crystalline solid is deliquescent in moist air. ...
References
{{Ammonium salts
Ammonium compounds