Ammonium cyanate explained

Ammonium cyanate is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a colorless, solid salt.

Structure and reactions

The structure of this salt was verified by X-ray crystallography. The respective C–O and C–N distances are 1.174(8) and 1.192(7) Å, consistent with the description. Ammonium cation forms hydrogen bonds with cyanate anion, but to N, not to O.^[1]

The compound is notable as the precursor in the Wöhler synthesis of urea, an organic compound, from inorganic reactants.^[2] This led to the discarding of the Vital force theory, suggested earlier by Berzelius.

^[3]

Notes and References

1. Ammonium cyanate shows N-H···N hydrogen bonding, not N-H···O. MacLean, Elizabeth J. . Harris, Kenneth D. M. . Kariuki, Benson M. . Kitchin, Simon J. . Tykwinski, Rik R. . Swainson, Ian P. . . Jack D.. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2003. 125. 47 . 14449–14451. 10.1021/ja021156x. 14624593 .
2. Ueber künstliche Bildung des Harnstoffs . . . 88 . 2 . 253–256 . 1828 . 10.1002/andp.18280880206 . 1828AnP....88..253W .
3. 10.1039/CS9780700001. The conversion of ammonium cyanate into urea. A saga on Reaction mechanisms. Shorter, J.. Chemical Society Reviews. 1978. 7. 1–14.