Ammonium persulfate

Ammonium persulfate is prepared by electrolysis of a cold concentrated solution of either ammonium sulfate or ammonium bisulfate in sulfuric acid at a high current density.{{Cite journal|last1=Shafiee|first1=Saiful Arifin|last2=Aarons|first2=Jolyon|last3=Hamzah|first3=Hairul Hisham|year=2018|title=Electroreduction of Peroxodisulfate: A Review of a Complicated Reaction|url=http://m.jes.ecsdl.org/content/165/13/H785.abstract?sid=3ddef67b-7f3b-49fa-93a7-c6eee812bfe4|journal=Journal of the Electrochemical Society|volume=165|issue=13|pages=H785–H798|doi=10.1149/2.1161811jes|s2cid=106396614 |doi-access=free}}F. Feher, "Potassium Peroxydisulfate" in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Edited by G. Brauer, Academic Press, 1963, NY. Vol. 1. p. 390. The method was first described by Hugh Marshall.{{cite journal | title = LXXIV. Contributions from the Chemical Laboratory of the University of Edinburgh. No. V. The trisulphates | author = Hugh Marshall | journal = J. Chem. Soc., Trans. | year = 1891 | volume = 59 | pages = 771–786 | doi = 10.1039/CT8915900771| url = https://zenodo.org/record/1723783 }}

The ammonium, sodium, and potassium salts adopt very similar structures in the solid state, according to X-ray crystallography. In the ammonium salt, the O-O distance is 1.497{{nbsp}}Å. The sulfate groups are tetrahedral, with three short S-O distances near 1.44{{nbsp}}Å and one long S-O bond at 1.64{{nbsp}}Å.{{cite journal |doi=10.1524/zkri.1969.130.16.449|title=A reinvestigation of the crystal structure of ammonium persulfate, (NH4)2S2O8 |year=1969 |last1=Sivertsen |first1=Β. K. |last2=Sorum |first2=H. |journal=Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials |volume=130 |issue=1–6 |pages=449–460 |s2cid=95804764 }}

As a source of radicals, APS is mainly used as a radical initiator in the polymerization of certain alkenes. Commercially important polymers prepared using persulfates include styrene-butadiene rubber and polytetrafluoroethylene. In solution, the dianion dissociates into radicals:{{Ullmann | title = Peroxo Compounds, Inorganic | author = Harald Jakob |author2=Stefan Leininger |author3=Thomas Lehmann |author4=Sylvia Jacobi |author5=Sven Gutewort | doi = 10.1002/14356007.a19_177.pub2}}

:[O₃SO–OSO₃]²⁻ {{eqm}} 2 [SO₄]^•−

Regarding its mechanism of action, the sulfate radical adds to the alkene to give a sulfate ester radical. It is also used along with tetramethylethylenediamine to catalyze the polymerization of acrylamide in making a polyacrylamide gel, hence being important for SDS-PAGE and western blot.

Illustrative of its powerful oxidizing properties, ammonium persulfate is used to etch copper on printed circuit boards as an alternative to ferric chloride solution.{{cite web | url = http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/prototyping-and-circuit-repair/prototyping/ammonium-persulphate-410 | publisher = MG Chemicals | title = Ammonium Persulphate: Copper Etchant}} This property was discovered many years ago. In 1908, John William Turrentine used a dilute ammonium persulfate solution to etch copper. Turrentine weighed copper spirals before placing the copper spirals into the ammonium persulfate solution for an hour. After an hour, the spirals were weighed again and the amount of copper dissolved by ammonium persulfate was recorded. This experiment was extended to other metals such as nickel, cadmium, and iron, all of which yielded similar results.{{cite journal | title = Action of Ammonium Persulphate on Metals. | author = Turrentine, J. W. | journal = Journal of Physical Chemistry | year = 1908 | volume = 11 | issue = 8 | pages = 623–631 | doi=10.1021/j150089a004| url = https://zenodo.org/record/1428764 }}

The oxidation equation is thus: {{chem|S|2|O|8|2−}} (aq) + 2 {{E-}} → 2 {{chem|SO|4|2−}} (aq).

Ammonium persulfate is a standard ingredient in hair bleach.

Persulfates are used as oxidants in organic chemistry.Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, vol. 1, pp. 193–197 (1995). For example, in the Minisci reaction and Elbs persulfate oxidation

Airborne dust containing ammonium persulfate may be irritating to eye, nose, throat, lung and skin upon contact. Exposure to high levels of dust may cause difficulty in breathing.{{cite web|url=http://msds.fmc.com/msds/100000010587-MSDS_US-E.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-03-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711014614/http://msds.fmc.com/msds/100000010587-MSDS_US-E.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-11 }} FMC Corporation, MSDS sheet dated: 2009-06-26

It has been noted that persulfate salts are a major cause of asthmatic effects.{{cite journal | title = Ammonium persulfate can initiate an asthmatic response in mice. |author1=De Vooght, V. |author2=Jesus Cruz, M. |author3=Haenen, S. |author4=Wijnhoven, K. |author5=Munoz, X. |author6=Cruz, M. |author7=Munoz, X. |author8=Morell, F. |author9=Nemery, B. | journal = Thorax | year = 2010 | volume = 65 |issue=3 | pages = 252–257 | doi=10.1136/thx.2009.121293 | pmid=20335296|doi-access=free }} Furthermore, it has been suggested that exposure to ammonium persulfate can cause asthmatic effects in hair dressers and receptionists working in the hairdressing industry. These asthmatic effects are proposed to be caused by the oxidation of cysteine residues, as well as methionine residues.{{cite journal | title = Oxidative activity of ammonium persulfate salt on mast cells and basophils: implication in hairdressers' asthma. |author1=Pignatti, P. |author2=Frossi, B. |author3=Pala, G. |author4=Negri, S. |author5=Oman, H. |author6=Perfetti, L. |author7=Pucillo, C. |author8=Imbriani, M. |author9=Moscato, G. | journal = Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. | year = 2013 | volume = 160 |issue=4 | pages = 409–419 | doi=10.1159/000343020|pmid=23183487 |s2cid=1540905 }}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0632.htm International Chemical Safety Card 0632]
• [http://www.united-initiators.com]

{{Ammonium salts}}

{{Persulfates}}

{{E number infobox 920-929}}

Category:Persulfates

Category:Peroxides

Category:Ammonium compounds

Category:Oxidizing agents