Ammonium dichromate

Ammonium dichromate is an inorganic compound with the formula (NH4)2Cr2O7. In this compound, as in all chromates and dichromates, chromium is in a +6 oxidation state, commonly known as hexavalent chromium. It is a salt consisting of ammonium ions and dichromate ions.

Ammonium dichromate
Names
IUPAC name
Ammonium dichromate
Other names
Ammonium bichromate
Ammonium pyrochromate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.221
RTECS number
  • HX7650000
UNII
UN number 1439
Properties
(NH4)2Cr2O7
Molar mass 252.07 g/mol
Appearance Orange-red crystals
Density 2.115 g/cm3
Melting point 180 °C (356 °F; 453 K) decomposes
18.2 g/100ml (0 °C)
35.6 g/100ml (20 °C)
40 g/100ml (25 °C)
156 g/100ml (100 °C)
Solubility insoluble in acetone
soluble in alcohol
Hazards
Main hazards Very toxic, explosive, oxidizing, carcinogen, mutagen, dangerous for the environment
Safety data sheet ICSC 1368
GHS pictograms [1]
H272, H301, H312, H314, H317, H330, H334, H340, H350, H360, H372, H410[1]
P201, P220, P260, P273, P280, P284[1]
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
190 °C (374 °F; 463 K)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
20-250 mg/kg
Related compounds
Other cations
 Potassium dichromate
Sodium dichromate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Ammonium dichromate is sometimes known as Vesuvian Fire, because of its use in demonstrations of tabletop "volcanoes".[2] However, this demonstration has become unpopular in schools due to the compound's carcinogenic nature. It has also been used in pyrotechnics and in the early days of photography.

Properties

At room temperature and pressure, the compound exists as orange, acidic crystals soluble in water and alcohol. It is formed by the action of chromic acid on ammonium hydroxide with subsequent crystallisation.[3]

The (NH4)2Cr2O7 crystal (C2/c, z=4) contains a single type of ammonium ion, at sites of symmetry C1(2,3). Each NH4+ centre is surrounded irregularly by eight oxygen atoms at N—O distances ranging from ca. 2.83 to ca. 3.17 Å, typical of hydrogen bonds.[4]

Uses

It has been used in pyrotechnics and in the early days of photography as well as in lithography, as a source of pure nitrogen in the laboratory, and as a catalyst.[5] It is also used as a mordant for dyeing pigments, in the manufacturing of alizarin, chrome alum, leather tanning and oil purification.[3]

Photosensitive films containing PVA, ammonium dichromate, and a phosphor are spin-coated as aqueous slurries in the production of the phosphor raster of television screens and other devices. The ammonium dichromate acts as the photoactive site.[6]

Reactions

Tabletop volcanoes and thermal decomposition
Ammonium dichromate decomposition

The volcano demonstration involves igniting a pile of the salt, which initiates the following exothermic conversion:- [8]

(NH
4)
2Cr
2O
7 (s) → Cr
2O
3 (s) + N
2 (g) + 4 H
2O (g) (ΔH = −429.1 ± 3 kcal/mol)

Like ammonium nitrate, it is thermodynamically unstable.[9][10] Its decomposition reaction proceeds to completion once initiated, producing voluminous dark green powdered chromium(III) oxide. Not all of the ammonium dichromate decomposes in this reaction. When the green powder is brought into water a yellow/orange solution is obtained from left over ammonium dichromate.

Observations obtained using relatively high magnification microscopy during a kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of ammonium dichromate provided evidence that salt breakdown proceeds with the intervention of an intermediate liquid phase rather than a solid phase. The characteristic darkening of (NH
4)
2Cr
2O
7 crystals as a consequence of the onset of decomposition can be ascribed to the dissociative loss of ammonia accompanied by progressive anion condensation to Cr
3O2−
10, Cr
4O2−
13, etc., ultimately yielding CrO
3. The CrO
3 has been identified as a possible molten intermediate participating in (NH
4)
2Cr
2O
7 decomposition.[11]

Oxidation reactions

Ammonium dichromate is a strong oxidising agent and reacts, often violently, with any reducing agent. The stronger the reducing agent, the more violent the reaction.[9] It has also been used to promote the oxidation of alcohols and thiols. Ammonium dichromate, in the presence of Mg(HSO4)2 and wet SiO2 can act as a very efficient reagent for the oxidative coupling of thiols under solvent free conditions. The reactions produces reasonably good yields under relatively mild conditions.[12] The compound is also used in the oxidation of aliphatic alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones in ZrCl4/wet SiO2 in solvent free conditions, again with relatively high yields.[13][14]

Safety

Ammonium dichromate, like all chromium (VI) compounds, is highly toxic and a proven carcinogen.[15] It is also a strong irritant.

Incidents

In sealed containers, ammonium dichromate is likely to explode if heated.[9] In 1986, two workers were killed and 14 others injured at Diamond Shamrock Chemicals in Ashtabula, Ohio, when 2,000 lbs of ammonium dichromate exploded as it was being dried in a heater.[16]

References
  1. Sigma-Aldrich Co., Ammonium dichromate. Retrieved on 2013-07-20.
  2. "Ammonium Dichromate Volcano". Chemistry Comes Alive!. J. Chem. Educ.
  3. Richard J. Lewis Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary. Wiley & Sons, Inc: New York, 2007 ISBN 978-0-471-76865-4
  4. Keresztury, G.; Knop, O. (1982). "Infrared spectra of the ammonium ion in crystals. Part XII. Low-temperature transitions in ammonium dichromate, (NH4)2Cr2O7". Can. J. Chem.: 1972–1976.
  5. Pradyot Patnaik. Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN 0-07-049439-8
  6. Havard, J. M.; Shim, S. Y.; Fr; eacute; chet, J. M. (1999). "Design of Photoresists with Reduced Environmental Impact. 1. Water-Soluble Resists Based on Photo-Cross-Linking of Poly(vinyl alcohol)". Chem. Mater. 11 (3): 719–725. doi:10.1021/cm980603y.

  7. Planned and performed by Marina Stojanovska, Miha Bukleski and Vladimir Petruševski, Department of Chemistry, FNSM, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia.
  8. Neugebauer, C. A.; Margrave, J. L. (1957). "The Heat Formation of Ammonium Dichromate". J. Phys. Chem. 61 (10): 1429–1430. doi:10.1021/j150556a040.
  9. Young, A.J. (2005). "CLIP, Chemical Laboratory Information Profile: Ammonium Dichromate". J. Chem. Educ. 82 (11): 1617. doi:10.1021/ed082p1617.
  10. G. A. P. Dalgaard; A. C. Hazell; R. G. Hazell (1974). "The Crystal Structure of Ammonium Dichromate, (NH4)2Cr2O7". Acta Chemica Scandinavica. A28: 541–545. doi:10.3891/acta.chem.scand.28a-0541.
  11. Galwey, Andrew K.; Pöppl, Làszlò; Rajam, Sundara (1983). "A Melt Mechanism for the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Dichromate". J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 1. 79 (9): 2143–2151. doi:10.1039/f19837902143.
  12. Shirini, F.; et al. (2003). "Solvent free oxidation of thiols by (NH4)2Cr2O7 in the presence of Mg(HSO4)2 and wet SiO2". Journal of Chemical Research. 2003: 28–29. doi:10.3184/030823403103172823.
  13. Shirini, F.; et al. (2001). "ZrCl4/wet SiO2 promoted oxidation of alcohols by (NH4)2Cr2O7 in solution and solvent free condition". J. Chem. Research (S). 2001 (11): 467–477. doi:10.3184/030823401103168541.
  14. F. Shirini; M. A. Zolfigol; FOO† and M. Khaleghi (2003). "Oxidation of Alcohols Using (NH4)2Cr2O7 in the Presence of Silica Chloride/Wet SiO2 in Solution and under Solvent Free Conditions". Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 24 (7): 1021–1022. doi:10.5012/bkcs.2003.24.7.1021. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  15. Volkovich, V. A.; Griffiths, T. R. (2000). "Catalytic Oxidation of Ammonia: A Sparkling Experiment". J. Chem. Educ. 77 (2): 177. doi:10.1021/ed077p177.
  16. Diamond, S. (19 January 1986). "Chemical Explosion In Ohio". The New York Times. p. 22.
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