Ammonium vanadates, decompositions

The yellow, amorphous variety is unstable and its identity is a little doubtful. It is stated to be obtained sometimes from the red, amorphous form by evaporation of a solution of the latter in hydrochloric acid, and it may also result from the ignition of ammonium meta-vanadate or from the decomposition of vanadates by acids. According to Bleecker it is most conveniently prepared by the electrolytic decomposition of copper vanadate.5 It becomes brick red on being heated, and is similar to the red variety in its general properties, except that it appears to be less hygroscopic and less soluble its saturated aqueous solution contains between 300 and 400 mgm. per litre.6... 

One of the simplest methods of preparation is by decomposition of a thermally unstable compound. The nitrate or chloride is often preferred, sulphates tend to decompose at higher temperatures. Where the presence of residual traces of anion is to be avoided, the metal salts of organic acids are particularly useful. Formates, oxalates, acetates etc, decompose at low temperatures and often reduce the metal at the same time. For the preparation of catalysts from anions, the ammonium salt is frequently used. Metallic salts of complex acids can be used as a source of metal oxide mixtures. Decomposition of the appropriate chromate, tungstate, molybdate or vanadate will produce the mixed oxide. 

Because the decompositions of many ammonium salts evolve NHj and HjO simultaneously (or conseeutively) in a 2 1 molar ratio, it is often convenient to represent the formula of such salts in the form m(NH4)20.n(metal oxide).xH20, where m, n and x are integers (see ammonium chromates, vanadates, tungstates and molybdates below). 

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