Physical properties, chemical properties and uses of ammonia

Physical Properties of Ammonia

  • Ammonia is a colorless gas.
  • It has a pungent odor with and an alkaline or soapy taste. When inhaled suddenly, it brings tears into the eyes.
  • It is lighter than air and is therefore collected by the downward displacement of air.
  • It is highly soluble in water: One volume of water dissolves about 1300 volumes of ammonia gas. It is due to its high solubility in water that the gas cannot be collected over water.
  • It can be easily liquefied at room temperature by applying a pressure of about 8-10 atmosphere.
  • Liquid ammonia boils at 239.6 K (- 33.5°C) under one atmosphere pressure. It has a high latent heat of vaporization (1370 J per gram) and is therefore used in refrigeration plants of ice making machines.
  • Liquid ammonia freezes at 195.3 K (-77.8°C) to give a white crystalline solid.

Structure of ammonia

Structure of ammonia

Ammonia is a covalent molecule as is shown by its dot structure. The ammonia molecule is formed due to the overlap of three sp3 hybrid orbitals and orbitals of three hydrogens. The fourth sp3 hybrid orbital is occupied by a lone-pair. This gives a trigonal pyramidal shape to ammonia molecule. The H-N-H bond angle is 107.3°, which is slightly less than the tetrahedral angle of 109°28. This is because the lone pair - bond pair repulsions tend to push the N-H bonds slightly inwards. In liquid and solid states, ammonia is associated through hydrogen bonds.

Chemical Properties of Ammonia

Thermal stability

Ammonia is highly stable. However, it can be decomposed into hydrogen and nitrogen by passing over heated metallic catalysts or when electric discharge is passed through it.

thermal stability of ammonia

Combustibility

Ammonia is combustible in air. However, it will burn in an atmosphere of oxygen

combustion of ammonia

Nitric oxide is obtained when a mixture of ammonia and air is passed over platinum - rhodium catalyst at 800°C

formation of nitric oxide from ammonia

Basic character

Ammonia molecule has a strong tendency to donate its lone pair of

electrons of nitrogen to other molecules. Thus, it acts like a strong Lewis base. In aqueous solutions, NH3 ionizes in accordance with the reaction.

basic character of ammonia

The equilibrium constant for this reaction at 298 K is 1.8 x 10-5. Thus, ammonia ionizes to a very small extent in aqueous solution. The aqueous solution of ammonia acts as a weak base due to the presence of OH- ions therein. Therefore, ammonia turns red litmus blue and reacts with acids to form salts.

For example,

With metal oxides

Ammonia gets oxidized to nitrogen, when passed over heated metal oxides.

reaction of ammonia with copperoxide

reaction of ammonia with leadoxide

With halogens

Ammonia reacts with halogens but the type of halogen and reaction conditions determine the nature of products.

Chlorine

Nitrogen and ammonium chloride are formed with a limited amount of chlorine. In the presence of excess of chlorine, nitrogen trichloride is formed.

reaction of ammonia with chlorine

formation of nitrogen trichloride from ammonia

Bromine

It gives ammonium bromide and nitrogen

reaction of ammonia with bromine

Iodine

When rubbed with solid iodine, a dark colored precipitate of nitrogen

tri-iodide is obtained

reaction of ammonia with iodine

After drying, if NH3.NI3 is struck against a hard surface or hit with a hammer, it explodes producing iodine vapors.

With carbon dioxide (formation of urea)

Ammonia when heated under pressure with CO2 gives urea.

formation of urea

With alkali metals

When ammonia is passed over heated sodium or potassium, amides are formed and hydrogen is set free.

formation of sodamide from ammonia

formation of potassamide from ammonia

Alkali metal dissolved in liquid ammonia gives a blue solutions, which upon standing slowly, liberate hydrogen. The blue color of such solutions is due to the presence of solvated electrons (e- (NH3)n). For instance, with sodium

Action with heavy metal ions

Ammonia forms metal hydroxides, which are insoluble and form precipitates, with the metal ions of Al, Fe, Cr, and Zn.

Formation of complex compounds

Ammonia forms complex compounds with the soluble salts of copper, silver etc. With copper sulphate solution, it gives a deep blue colored complex compound, tetramminecopper(II) sulphate.

formation of potassium manganate from potassium permanganate

formation of diammine silver I hydroxide

formation of diammine silver I chloride

Uses of ammonia

  • In the manufacture of rayon and urea
  • In the manufacture of fertilizers such as urea diammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate etc.
  • In ice plants, as a refrigerant
  • In furniture industry, as a cleansing agent for furniture and glass surfaces.
  • In the manufacture of nitric acid by Ostwald's process.
  • In the manufacture of sodium carbonate by Solvay's process.

Tests of ammonia

The following tests of any sample confirm the presence of ammonia.

  • The ammoniacal smell of ammonia is easily detectable having a characteristic pungent smell.
  • Ammonia turns moist red litmus blue, and moist turmeric paper brown.
  • When added to a solution of copper sulphate, ammonia turns the solution deep blue.
  • A glass rod dipped in concentrated HCl when brought close to ammonia, causes dense white fumes.
  • When added to Nessler's reagent (alkaline solution of K2[HgI4] ammonia gives brown precipitate.

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Unknown said...

When huge amount of ammonia is accidently released from a cylinder,will it corrode nearby metals like copper,brass,steel coating,iron overtime?

Unknown said...

Does ammonia gas corrode metals overtime.if,what difference will be on copper and brass?

Unknown said...

When huge amount of ammonia is accidently released from a cylinder,will it corrode nearby metals like copper,brass,steel coating,iron overtime?

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