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Ammonium Bicarbonate (NH4)
Ammonium Bicarbonate (NH4HCO3). A white, crystalline ammonium salt of carbonic acid (H2CO3). It is relatively unstable and releases ammonia (q.v.) and carbon dioxide gas (q.v.) when subjected to heating and, for this reason, finds some use as a chemical leavening agent (q.v.). Its applications are limited to low-moisture products, such as dry cookies (q.v.) and crackers (q.v.), as some ammonia is retained in baked products that contain even moderate moisture contents and renders them inedible.