Ammonium oxalate


Ammonium oxalate, C2H8N2O4 – more commonly written as 2C2O4 – is an oxalate salt with ammonium. It is a colorless salt under standard conditions and is odorless and non-volatile. It is the ammonium salt of oxalic acid, and occurs in many plants and vegetables.

Vertebrate

It is produced in the body of vertebrates by metabolism of glyoxylic acid or ascorbic acid. It is not metabolized but excreted in the urine. It is a constituent of some types of kidney stone. It is also found in guano.

Mineralogy

Oxammite is a natural, mineral form of ammonium oxalate. This mineral is extremely rare.

Chemistry

Ammonium oxalate is used as an analytical reagent and general reducing agent. It and other oxalates are used as anticoagulants, to preserve blood outside the body.

Earth sciences

Acid ammonium oxalate is commonly employed in soil chemical analysis to extract iron and aluminium from poorly-crystalline minerals, iron-bearing minerals and organic matter.