Ammonium sulfide, also known as the “stink bomb,” is a toxic chemical and has a very strong and unpleasant odour. They are highly flammable and the ammonium sulfide molecular formula is represented as follows (NH₄)₂S.

Treating ammonium hydroxide with an excess of hydrogen sulfide, ammonium hydrosulfide (NH4HS) is formed, which with further treatment with the same quantity of ammonia yields ammonium sulfide. 

Properties of Ammonium Sulfide 

Appearance : Yellow crystal

Chemical Formula : (NH₄)₂S

Molar Mass : 66.13 g/mol

Density : 0.997 g/cm³

Uses of Ammonium Sulfide 

1. Used in the manufacture of photographic developers

2. Used in the textile industry

3. Used in the application of the patina to the bronze

4. Ammonium sulfide is used to make “knock bombs”, aqueous dilutions of the compound. 

5. In water, it decomposes into ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gas, which gives off an unpleasant odor.

6. It is used as a patina that can be applied to bronze in photographic development or during some weaving processes.

7. It is used as the reducing agent in some organic synthesis methodologies.