The reaction of ammonium salts in molten alkali metal nitrites

The thermal decomposition of ammonium chloride and sulphate in molten alkali metal nitrite eutectics cannot be represented by a simple stoichiometry. Nitrous oxide and nitric oxide are produced as well as nitrogen and water.Thermogravimetry is complicated by loss of solid material when the extremely rapid reaction commences at temperatures just below the melting points of the nitrite eutectics and by volatilisation of unreacted ammonium compounds, largely chloride and nitrite/nitrate from reactant solutions of ammonium chloride and ammonium sulphate, respectively.