Chapter 9.

2: AMMONIA (NH3)

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AMMONIA
• Ammonia is a compound of Nitrogen(N2) and
Hydrogen(H2).
• Formula: NH3
• Molar mass: 17 g/mol
• Boiling point: -33.34 °C
• Density: 0.73 kg/m³
• Melting point: -77.73 °C

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AMMONIA GAS
• A colorless gas with pungent smell .
• Very soluble in water and forms weak alkali.
NH3+H2O NH4+ + OH-
• Neutralizes acid to form Soluble Ammonium salt
(White color in solid state and Colorless in Aqueous
state).
Example of Ammonium Salt
 Ammonium Carbonate, (NH4)2CO3
 Ammonium Chloride,NH4Cl
 Ammonium Sulphate,(NH4)2SO4
 Ammonium Nitrate,NH4NO3 3
AMMONIA SALT
• Ammonium carbonate decompose into ammonia carbon dioxide and
water

(NH4)2CO3 2NH3+CO2+H2O
• In initial heating NH 4Cl(s) will Sublime, on further heating it will
decompose to produce Ammonia(NH 3) and Hydrogen Chloride,HCL(g)

Initial heating NH 4Cl(s) NH4Cl(g)

Further heating NH 4Cl(g) NH3+HCl(g)

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AMMONIA SALT
• Ammonium Sulphate,(NH 4)2SO4 sublime when first heated then decompose to
Ammonia,NH3 and Hydrogen Sulphate,HCl(g)
(NH4)2SO4(s) 2NH3(g) + H2SO4(g)

• Ammonium nitrate reacts with metal hydroxides, releasing ammonia and

forming alkali metal nitrate:
NH4NO3 + MOH → NH3 + H2O + MNO3 (M = Na, K)
• Ammonium nitrate leaves no residue when heated:
NH4NO3 N2O + 2H2O
• When rapidly heated or exploded the predominant reaction is:
2NH4NO3 2N2 + O2 + 4H2O

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TEST OF AMMONIA ION (NH 4+)
• Ammonium ions can be identified in a solution by adding dilute
Sodium Hydroxide solution, NaOH(aq) and gently heating. If
ammonium ions are present, they will be converted to
ammonia gas. Ammonia has a characteristic pungent smell. It
also turns damp red litmus paper blue or damp universal
indicator paper blue.

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MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA
• Manufactured in industry through Haber process.

N2(g)+3H2(g) 2NH3(g)

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HABER PROCESS

• Mixture of Nitrogen gas from the air and Hydrogen gas

from the natural gas in the ratio of 1:3 is compressed at the
pressure of 200atm .
• The mixture is then pass through Iron catalyst(Fe) at the
temperature of 450°C to increase its rate of reaction.
• The ammonia gas formed is cooled and condense to
liquid.
• Reaction equation: N2+3H2 2NH3

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USES OF AMMONIA
• Manufacture synthetic fertilizers such as ammonium
Sulphate (NH4)2SO4 ,ammonium nitrate
NH4NO3,ammonium phosphate(NH 4)3PO4 and urea
CH4N2O.
• To manufacture Nitric Acid HNO3 through Ostwald process
• To manufacture explosives.
• Liquid ammonia is use as cooling agent in refrigerators.
• To prevent coagulation of latex.

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QUESTION
1. Name the process that manufacture ammonia,NH 3
• Haber process
2. State two properties of Ammonia gas
• colourless gas and pungent smell .
3. Sate one uses of ammonia
• Manufacture synthetic fertilizers
• To manufacture nitric acid HNO 3
• To manufacture explosives
• use as cooling agent
• prevent coagulation of latex 10