Ammonium persulfate (CAS 7727-54-0)

Ammonium persulfate (APS), with the chemical formula (NH4)2S2O8, is a white crystalline powder known for its strong oxidizing properties. It is widely used in various industrial and research applications, primarily due to its ability to generate free radicals when dissolved in water. This characteristic makes APS an essential component in the polymerization of certain plastics and rubbers, where it acts as an initiator to start the radical polymerization process. The free radicals generated from APS break double bonds in monomer molecules, leading to the formation of polymer chains. Beyond its role in polymer chemistry, ammonium persulfate is utilized in the cleaning and etching of copper surfaces on printed circuit boards (PCBs), where its oxidizing action is critical in ensuring the surface is free of impurities and properly prepared for the electroplating process. In biochemical research, APS is used to catalyze the polymerization of acrylamide, facilitating the formation of polyacrylamide gels, a key tool in gel electrophoresis for separating nucleic acids and proteins. This application is crucial for molecular biology studies, including DNA sequencing and protein analysis. Additionally, its oxidizing power is exploited in analytical chemistry to quantify the presence of certain reducing agents through redox reactions, providing a versatile tool for analyzing chemical compositions and reactions.