Sodium ammonium tartrate

Sodium ammonium tartrate
Names
IUPAC name
2,3-Dihydroxybutanedioic acid, monoammonium monosodium salt
Other names
Ammonium Rochelle salt
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.037.121 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • (L): 240-850-1
  • (D/L): InChI=1S/C4H6O6.H3N.Na/c5-1(3(7)8)2(6)4(9)10;;/h1-2,5-6H,(H,7,8)(H,9,10);1H3;/q;;+1/p-1
    Key: QGKIJYBOYMJGHT-UHFFFAOYSA-M
  • (D/L): C(C(C(=O)[O-])O)(C(=O)[O-])O.[NH4+].[Na+]
Properties
C4H8NNaO6
Molar mass 189.099 g·mol−1
Appearance White solid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Sodium ammonium tartrate (NAT) is an organic compound with the formula Na(NH4)[O2CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO2]. 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]

  1. ^ L. Pasteur (1849). "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". Compt. Rend. 28: 477.
  2. ^ Brożek, Z.; Mucha, D.; Stadnicka, K. (1994). "X-ray Rietveld structure determination of ammonium Rochelle salt at 120 (Paraelectric phase) and 100 K (Ferroelectric phase)". Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science. 50 (4): 465–472. doi:10.1107/S0108768194000479.
  3. ^ Kuroda, Reiko; Mason, Stephen F. (1981). "Crystal structures of dextrorotatory and racemic sodium ammonium tartrate". Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions (6): 1268. doi:10.1039/DT9810001268.