Ammonia – Summary Notes

 Ammonia for the first time was prepared by Joseph Priestley in 1775. Davy, in 1800,
proved ammonia to be a compound of elements nitrogen and hydrogen.
 Occurrence
 Ammonia occurs both in free and combined state. In the free state, it occurs in the
atmospheric air, sewage water, decaying plant and animal tissues, urine and excreta
of animals. In the combined state, it occurs as various ammonium salts.
 Ammonia occurs generally in three forms: gaseous ammonia, liquor ammonia and
liquid ammonia.
 Preparation
 Ammonia is prepared by heating an ammonium salt with an alkali.
Heat
(NH4)2SO4 + Ca(OH)2 → CaSO4 + 2H2O + 2NH3↑
 In the laboratory, ammonia is prepared by heating a mixture of ammonium chloride
and dry slaked lime.
Heat
2NH4Cl + Ca(OH)2 → CaCl2 + 2H2O + 2NH3↑
 In the laboratory, ammonia can also be prepared by dripping water on metallic
nitrides.
Mg3N2 + 6H2O → 3Mg(OH)2 + 2NH3↑
 Physical Properties
 Ammonia is a colourless gas.
 It is bitter in taste.
 It has a strong pungent odour.
 It is lighter than air.
 It is highly soluble in water.
 Liquid ammonia boils at —33.5°C and solid ammonia melts at —77.7°C.
 Ammonia has an irritating action on the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, eyes
and lungs.
 Chemical Properties
 Aqueous solution of ammonia is called ammonium hydroxide. It is a weak base as it
dissociates partially to give hydroxyl ions.
H3+ H2O → NH4OH
NH4OH ⇋ NH4+ + OH −
 Aqueous solution of ammonia (ammonium hydroxide) precipitates hydroxides of
metals like Fe, Pb, Mg, Cu and Zn from the solution of their salts.
FeCl3 + 3NH4OH → Fe(OH)3↓ + 3NH4Cl
(reddish brown)
FeSO4+ 2NH4OH → Fe(OH)2, ↓ + (NH4)2SO4
(dirty green)
Pb(NO3)2 + 2NH4OH → Pb(OH)2 ↓ + 2NH4NO3
(white)
 Ammonia gas or aqueous solution of ammonia neutralizes acids like H2SO4, HNO3
and HCl into their respective ammonium salts.
2NH3 + H2SO4 → (NH4)2SO4
2NH4OH(aq) + H2SO4 → (NH4)2SO4 + 2H2O
 Ammonia is a strong reducing agent. It reduces metallic oxides and chlorine.

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 3CuO + 2NH3 → 3Cu + 3H2O + N2↑
8NH3 + 3Cl2 → 6NH4Cl + N2 ↑
(excess)
NH3 + 3Cl2 → NCl3 + 3HCl
(excess)
 Ammonia does not burn in the air. But it burns with a greenish yellow flame in the
atmosphere of oxygen.
4NH3↑ + 3O2 ↑ → 2N2 ↑ + 6H2O + Heat
(vapour)
 Tests
 Ammonia turns moist red litmus paper blue.
 It turns methyl orange yellow.
 It has an irritating pungent odour.
 It gives a white precipitate with lead nitrate solution.
 It gives white fumes with concentrated hydrochloric acid.
 It brings tears in eyes and causes a burning sensation.
 Uses
 It is used as a refrigerant in ice-plants.
 It is used in the manufacture of fertilizers.
 Liquid ammonia is used as a cleansing agent.
 It is used in the manufacture of nitrogenous compounds such as plastics, nylon, rayon,
dyes, and explosives.
 It is used in the manufacture of ammonium salts, and nitric acid.
 An aqueous solution of ammonia is used as an important laboratory reagent.
 It is used as a non-aqueous solvent in the form of liquid ammonia.
 It is used in the manufacture of sodium carbonate.

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