What is the Ammonium Sulphate Formula? A Clear and Simple Guide

Your plants look weak. The leaves are yellow. You know they need food. But what food do they need? This is a big problem for farmers and gardeners. You need strong plants to get a good crop. Weak plants mean lost money and less food. The solution is often a good fertilizer.

One of the best is Ammonium Sulphate. This guide will tell you all about it.

The ammonium sulphate formula is (NH4)2SO4.

This simple formula holds the key to healthy plants. It is an important inorganic salt. It gives plants two things they need most. It gives them nitrogen. It gives them sulfur. Let’s look closely at this helpful chemical compound.

Decoding the Formula: The Structure of (NH4)2SO4

The formula (NH4)2SO4 looks hard. But it is easy to understand. It is made of two parts.

The Ammonium Cation (NH4+)

First, we see (NH4). This is the Ammonium cation (NH4+). A cation is a part with a positive charge. Think of it like the plus (+) side of a battery. The little 2 outside the () means there are two of these ammonium parts. So, we have two positive charges. This part gives plants the nitrogen they need to be green.

The Sulfate Anion (SO4^2-)

Next, we see SO4. This is the Sulfate anion (SO4^2-). An anion is a part with a negative charge. Think of it like the minus (-) side of a battery. It is made of one Sulfur (S) atom and four Oxygen (O) atoms. It has a double negative charge. This part gives plants sulfur. Sulfur helps plants use the nitrogen and make proteins. It is a key part of protein synthesis.

These two parts are held together by an ionic bond. The two positive ammonium parts balance the one double-negative sulfate part. They stick together to make a stable salt. It is a type of double salt.

The Structure of (NH4)2SO4

Key Properties of Ammonium Sulphate

Why is this white, crystalline solid so good for plants and other uses? Its properties are the reason. Understanding them helps you see why it is a top choice.

Top 5 Uses of Ammonium Sulphate

This useful compound is used in many ways, from the farm to the factory.

1. Agricultural Fertilizer

This is the biggest job for ammonium sulphate. Plants get sick without enough food. Their leaves turn yellow. They do not grow big. This is a big problem. Ammonium sulphate solves this by providing crop nutrition.

• Nitrogen Fertilizer: It gives plants lots of nitrogen. Nitrogen helps with photosynthesis. It helps make chlorophyll production strong. This makes leaves green and healthy.
• Sulfur Fertilizer: It gives plants sulfur. Sulfur is needed for amino acid synthesis. Amino acids build proteins, which helps with strong root development and overall plant growth.
• Soil pH: It helps lower the soil pH. This is very good for soils that are too alkaline. It improves the cation exchange capacity of the soil.

For the best fertilizer for crops, many farmers trust a good ammonium sulphate fertilizer.

Agricultural Fertilizer

2. Herbicide Adjuvant

Sometimes, you need to spray for weeds. But the spray does not always work well. The water can be hard. The weeds can be tough. This is a problem. Ammonium sulphate helps. When you mix it in, it makes the weed killer work better. It is a top agricultural adjuvant and herbicide spray adjuvant.

3. Food Additive (E517)

Did you know it is in your food? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it is safe. In the food world, it is called E number E517. It works as a food additive. It is an acidity regulator in food. It is also a dough conditioner. It makes bread dough stable. It is a yeast nutrient, helping bread rise perfectly. This is a key part of Food Science.

4. Laboratory Reagent

In a lab, scientists need to study things like proteins. But proteins are very small. They are mixed up with other things in a cell. This is a problem for a scientist. The solution is to use ammonium sulphate. In biochemistry, it is used for protein precipitation. This is a method called salting out. It helps scientists with protein purification and enzyme purification. This lets them study DNA, RNA, and how living things work. It is a very common laboratory chemical and analytical reagent. It can also be used to make a buffer solution.

5. Flame Retardant

Fire is a big danger. Some materials burn too easily. Ammonium sulphate helps make them safer. It is used in flame retardant sprays and fire extinguisher powder. It makes it harder for things like wood, textile products, and paper to catch fire. This is an important part of Material Science.

How is Ammonium Sulphate Made?

Making ammonium sulphate is a simple chemical reaction. The main way is a chemical synthesis that mixes two things:

1. Ammonia (NH3): This is the source of nitrogen. The ammonia is often made using the Haber-Bosch process.
2. Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4): This is the source of sulfur. It is often made using the Contact Process.

When they react, they make a precipitate.
The equation is: 2NH3 + H2SO4 → (NH4)2SO4

It is also made as a byproduct. For example, it is a byproduct of caprolactam production. Caprolactam is used to make nylon. This makes it an important industrial chemical. It is also used in leather tanning and the textile industry for dyeing and printing.

Ammonium Sulphate in the Real World: Data and Studies

Talk is good, but numbers are better. Data shows just how important ammonium sulphate is. The worldwide market is growing fast. This is because we need more food for more people.

These studies show that choosing the right fertilizer matters. It changes how well your crops grow. A good nutrient management plan is key for sustainable agriculture.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer Partner

You see how good ammonium sulphate is. But a bigger problem is finding a good supply. Who can you trust? You need a partner who makes high-quality fertilizer every time. You might need a special mix just for your farm. A generic product may not work. This can lead to wasted money and a poor harvest.

The solution is an experienced fertilizer factory. Shandong Lvfeng Fertilizer Co., Ltd. is a professional fertilizer maker. We started in 1999. For over 25 years, we have helped farmers all over the world.

We have 5 modern production lines. We make 150,000 tons of NPK compound fertilizer and 120,000 tons of ammonium sulphate every year. We make both caprolactam and steel grade nitrogenous fertilizers. Our products provide the perfect NPK ratio for your crops.

We offer more than just one product. We are an expert npk fertilizer supplier. Our products include:

• Compound NPK Fertilizer: We make all kinds of ratios like npk 15 15 15 fertilizer, npk 20 20 20, and npk 17 17 17.
• Water Soluble Fertilizer: Our water soluble npk fertilizer is perfect for drip systems. We have formulas like water soluble fertilizer 20 20 20.
• BB Fertilizer: We offer custom fertilizer blends. This is also called bulk blending fertilizer. We do the fertilizer blending for you.
• Nitrogen Fertilizer: We have all nitrogen fertilizer options, including slow release nitrogen fertilizer.
• Raw Materials: We use the best raw materials. This includes Urea, MAP, DAP, SOP, and MOP.

We are your partner in growth. We offer full OEM/ODM services. We can make the exact fertilizer compounds you need.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer Partner

Is Ammonium Sulphate Safe?

Safety is always important. Is this chemical safe to use? Yes, it is safe when you are careful.

You should always read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). It can be a skin irritant and an eye irritant. The dust can be an inhalation hazard.

Here are some safety tips:

• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This means gloves and safety glasses.
• Work in a place with good air flow.
• Know the first aid measures. If you get it on your skin or in your eyes, wash with a lot of water.
• Proper chemical storage is important. Keep it in a dry place.
• Know how to handle spillage clean-up and chemical waste disposal.

With these simple steps, it is very safe to handle. Its benefits for agriculture and industry are huge, with very low risk.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the common name for (NH4)2SO4?
A: The common name is ammonium sulphate. Some people say ammonium sulfate. It is also called ammonium sulfide by mistake sometimes, but that is a different chemical.

Q2: Does ammonium sulphate dissolve easily in water?
A: Yes, it is a great soluble fertilizer. Its high water solubility is why it works so fast in the soil. It is a great water soluble nitrogen fertilizer.

Q3: Is ammonium sulphate acidic or basic?
A: It is an acidic salt. Using it will lower the pH of your soil over time, which can prevent nutrient leaching and reduce volatilization. It affects nitrification and denitrification cycles in the soil.

Q4: What is the NPK rating for ammonium sulphate?
A: The NPK rating is 21-0-0. The npk fertilizer full form is Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). This means it has 21% nitrogen and no phosphorus or potassium. It is a high nitrogen fertilizer. But it also has 24% sulfur, which is a bonus nutrient not shown in the NPK. It’s great nitrogen for crops like corn. We also offer nitrogen phosphorus and potassium fertilizer if you need a complete N-P-K formula.