2,4,6-Trinitrophenol ammonium salt is formed when the ammonium ion, NH4+, attaches itself to the phenol group, OH, of picric acid. I suppose the H from OH is stripped away making O- that balances the positive ammonium ion. To make, dissolve picric acid in excess ammonium hydroxide. Add 1 g of picric acid to a 250-mL beaker then add 100 mL of hot concentrated ammonium hydroxide. Once the picric acid has dissolved, some will precipitate out of solution upon cooling. The liquid must be evaporated to fully precipitate the crystals. Evaporation can be accelerated by heating the solution on a hotplate or in a heated pan of water. More ammonium picrate can be prepared at once by using the same 1:100 ratio of grams picric acid to milliliters ammonium hydroxide. You will need a graduated cylinder to measure the liquid.

The pure substance occurs in two forms, a stable form which is bright yellow and a less stable form which is bright red. The crystals which separate here are the red form. The yellow form can be procured by recrystallizing the red several times from water. The red form will eventually change into the yellow form if stored as a concentrated solution. Keep this material as dry as possible.

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