Sodium ammonium tartrate explained

Sodium ammonium tartrate (NAT) is an organic compound with the formula . The salt is derived from tartaric acid by neutralizing with ammonia and with sodium hydroxide. Louis Pasteur obtained enantiopure crystals of the tetrahydrate of NAT, via the process of spontaneous resolution.^[1] His discovery led to increased study of optical activity, which eventually was shown to have broad implications.^[2] Many modifications of this salt have been investigated by X-ray crystallography, including the racemate, which crystallizes as the monohydrate.^[3]

Related compounds

• , known as Rochelle salt, was the first ferroelectric material discovered.

References

1. L. Pasteur. Compt. Rend.. 1849. 28. 477. Nouvelles recherches de L. Pasteur sur les relations qui peuvent exister entre la forme cristalline, la composition chimique et le phénomène de la polarisation rotatoire.
2. 10.1107/S0108768194000479 . X-ray Rietveld structure determination of ammonium Rochelle salt at 120 (Paraelectric phase) and 100 K (Ferroelectric phase) . 1994 . Brożek . Z. . Mucha . D. . Stadnicka . K. . Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science . 50 . 4 . 465–472 .
3. 10.1039/DT9810001268 . Crystal structures of dextrorotatory and racemic sodium ammonium tartrate . 1981 . Kuroda . Reiko . Mason . Stephen F. . Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions . 6 . 1268 .