501. Ammonium Bisulfide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 12124-99-1
Ammonium sulfide ((NH4)(SH)); ammonium hydrogen sulfide; ammonium hydrosulfide; ammonium sulfhydrate.
H5NS; mol wt 51.11.
H 9.86%, N 27.41%, S 62.74%.
NH4HS.

Description and references

Prepd by mixing stoichiometric amts of NH3 and H2S gases at 0°: Thomas, Riding, J. Chem. Soc. 123, 1181 (1923).

Properties

White, tetragonal or orthorhombic crystals. d 1.17. Sublimes in vacuo. Decomposes into H2S and NH3 rather easily at room temp when in crystal form. The commercial product is furnished in porcelain-like lumps which are more stable and can be stored in a closed bottle at a cool place. Dissociation press. at room temp about 350 mm Hg. Freely sol in water or alcohol giving colorless solns which turn yellow rapidly. Decomposed by boiling water. Soly (0°): 128.1 g/100 g H2O. Slightly sol in acetone; almost insol in ether, benzene.

Caution

Very irritating to skin; penetrates more rapidly than hydrogen sulfide and may be fatal.

Use

In lubricants.