Ammonia Formula

The chemical formula for ammonia is NH3, having one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms, bonded with covalent bonds. 

Physical properties

Appearance: Ammonia gas has no color at room temperature and pressure.

Odor: It has a strong, pungent smell, often described as acrid or sharp.

Density: The density of ammonia gas is about 0.73 kg/m³ (at 0°C and 1 atm), which is lighter than air.

Boiling and melting points:

Boiling point:-33.34°C (-28.01°F)

Melting point:-77.73°C (-107.91°F)

Solubility: Ammonia acts as a weak base in water, it is highly soluble in water, resulting in a solution known as ammonia water or ammonium hydroxide  (NH4OH)

Specific heat: Liquid ammonia has a specific heat of approximately 4.7 J/g·K.

Polarity: By structural property, ammonia is a polar molecule due to its lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom and is said to have a considerable dipole moment.

Reactivity: Liquid ammonia is less dense and more reactive compared to gaseous ammonia. They can undergo a reaction with acids to yield ammonium salts.

Chemical properties

Basicity: Ammonia is a weak base. It reacts with acids to produce ammonium salts.

NH3​+HCl→NH4​Cl

It reacts with water in an aqueous solution to form the Ammonium Hydroxide,

NH4OH, which accounts for its basic nature

NH3​+H2O↔NH4​OH

Formation of complexes: Ammonia can act as a ligand, forming complex ions with metal cations. For instance, Ammonia forms coordination complexes in the presence of a metal salt, such as the tetra ammine copper(II) complex

Cu2++4NH3​→[Cu(NH3​)4​]2+

Reaction with acids: Ammonia reacts with different types of acids to form ammonium salts. For instance, it reacts with sulfuric acid to give ammonium sulfate

2 NH3​+H2SO4​→(NH4​)2​SO4

Combustion: Ammonia burns in oxygen with a pale yellow flame to give nitrogen and water

4NH3​+3O2​→2N2​+6H2​O

Reaction with Chlorine: Ammonia reacts with chlorine gas, yielding nitrogen trichloride and hydrochloric acid

2 NH3​+3Cl2​→NCl3​+3HCl

Nitrogen trichloride is a yellow and explosive compound.

Reaction with Oxygen: The reaction of Ammonia with Oxygen forms Nitrogen monoxide,

(NO) and water, especially in the presence of a catalyst

4NH3​+3O2​→2NO+6H2​O

Reduction reactions: Ammonia may work as a reducing agent in specific reactions. It reduces certain metal oxides to their corresponding metals.

Application

Fertilizers:

Ammonium Nitrate: One of the major constituents in fertilizers, it provides nitrogen in a form available to the plants for their growth.

Urea: The most used nitrogen fertilizer produced from Ammonia.

Industrial Refrigeration: Ammonia is used in the industrial refrigeration process due to its effectiveness and affordability. It has a very high latent heat of vaporization, making it quite suitable for coolers.

Cleaning agents: Ammonia finds wide uses in many household and industrial cleaners due to its strong dissolving action on grease and grime. For this reason, it is used in window cleaning agents, floor cleaning agents, among other surface cleaning agents.

Chemical Manufacturing: Ammonia is a key raw material in the production of various chemicals, including:

Ammonium Sulphate: this is used as a fertilizer and in water treatment.

Ammonium Hydroxide: Used in cleaning products, as a food additive, and in the production of textiles and dyes.

Hydrazine: As rocket propellant and in pharmaceutical products.

Water treatment: Ammonia is used in water treatment to help remove impurities. Sometimes it could be used along with chlorine in the formation of chloramines, acting agents in disinfecting drinking water and wastewater.

Manufacture of Explosives: It is utilized in producing explosives such as dynamite and other blasting agents.

Pharmaceuticals: Ammonia is used in synthesizing various pharmaceutical compounds and drug production.

Textiles: Ammonia is used in the textile industry for dyeing and finishing purposes. It helps in fixing colors and improving fabric quality.

Food Industry: Ammonia is used as a raising agent in the food industry and also in the manufacture of certain types of food additives. In addition, it is used for adjusting pH values in various kinds of foodstuffs.

Catalysts: Ammonia is used in various catalytic reactions, for example in the manufacture of nitric acid, which is done by the Ostwald process and involves Ammonia oxidation.

Ammonia has various applications in agriculture, industry, and many other fields; all these have a dependence on its production.