Ammonium Persulfate

Ammonium Persulfate

Ammonium persulfate (APS) (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ is a strong oxidizing agent. It is very soluble in water; the dissolution of the salt in water is endothermic. It is a radical initiator. It is used to etch copper on printed circuit boards as an alternative to ferric chloride solution. It is also used along with tetramethylethylenediamine to catalyze the polymerization of acrylamide in making a polyacrylamide gel.

Ammonium persulfate was prepared by H. Marshall by the method used for the preparation of potassium persulfate — by the electrolysis of a solution of ammonium sulfate and sulfuric acid.

Ammonium persulfate is the main component of Nochromix. On dissolving in sulfuric acid, it is used to clean laboratory glassware as a metal-free alternative to chromic acid baths. It is also a standard ingredient in western blot gels and hair bleach.