Here's what happens:
* Ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) react with hydroxide ions (OH⁻) to form ammonia (NH₃) and water (H₂O):
NH₄⁺ + OH⁻ → NH₃ + H₂O
* Sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻) remain in solution.
The overall reaction can be represented as:
(NH₄)₂SO₄ + 2OH⁻ → 2NH₃ + 2H₂O + SO₄²⁻
Important points:
* The reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat.
* The ammonia produced is a weak base, so the solution will become slightly basic.
* The type of hydroxide used will determine the specific products and the overall reaction. For example, if you use sodium hydroxide (NaOH), the products will be sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) and ammonia.
Examples:
* Ammonium sulfate + potassium hydroxide:
(NH₄)₂SO₄ + 2KOH → 2NH₃ + 2H₂O + K₂SO₄
* Ammonium sulfate + calcium hydroxide:
(NH₄)₂SO₄ + Ca(OH)₂ → 2NH₃ + 2H₂O + CaSO₄
Note: The specific products and reaction conditions may vary depending on the concentration of the reactants and the presence of other ions in the solution.