Ampicillin trihydrate

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0219014725
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IC0219014725
Ampicillin trihydrate
Ampicillin trihydrate

Ampicillin is a semi-synthetic derivative of penicillin, active as a broad-spectrum antibiotic.


  • At 25 °C ,pKa = 2.5 (-COOH),pKa = 7.3 (-NH2) (Lit.)
  • Physical form: Powder
  • Concentration: 100 mg/liter for both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. It is typically stable in media at 37 °C for approximately 3 days.


It is inactivated by beta-lactamases and for this reason a beta-lactamase inhibitor should be considered when using ampicillin


A β-lactam antibiotic with an amino group side chain attached to the penicillin structure. Penicillin derivative that inhibits bacterial cell-wall synthesis (peptidoglycan cross-linking) by inactivating transpeptidases on the inner surface of the bacterial cell membrane. Bactericidal only to growing Escherichia coli. Mode of resistance: Cleavage of β-lactam ring of ampicillin by β-lactamase. Antimicrobial spectrum: Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.


Ampicillin Trihydrate is commonly used to select for ampicillin resistance in mutated and transformed cells. It is also described for the use of inhancing luminol chemiluminescence.


Against gram-positive bacteria, ampicillin has a similar mode of action as benzylpenicillin; against gram-negative bacteria, it has a similar mode of action as chloramphenicol and tetracyclines. In E. coli it inhibits cell wall synthesis.


Soluble in 1 M Ammonium Hydroxide (50 mg/mL), dilute acids (50 mg/mL 1 M HCl) or bases; slightly soluble in water (10 mg/mL); practically insoluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether and fixed oils.


Caution: Autoclaving solutions of ampicillin will destroy activity. Solutions can be sterilized by filtration (0.22 um filter) and stored frozen (-20 °C or below). Frozen solutions can be stored for up to 3 months.

Formula: C₁₆H₁₉N₃O₄S·3H₂O
MW: 403.45 g/mol
Melting Pt: 198…200 °C (lit.)
Storage Temperature: Refrigerator
MDL Number: MFCD00072036
CAS Number: 7177-48-2

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