Ammonia

Ammonia

Ammonia Latest News

Officials explained that ammonia spikes in the Yamuna are a chronic winter issue, generally occurring between 15 and 22 times a year.

About Ammonia

  • It is a colorless, pungent gas composed of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3.
  • It is the simplest stable compound of these elements and serves as a starting material for the production of many commercially important nitrogen compounds.
  • It exists naturally in humans and in the environment. 
    • In the environment, ammonia is part of the nitrogen cycle and is produced in soil from bacterial processes. 
    • Ammonia is also produced naturally from decomposition of organic matter, including plants and animals.
  • Industrial production: Manufactured mainly by the Haber–Bosch process (from nitrogen and hydrogen).
  • Ammonia gas can be dissolved in water. This kind of ammonia is called liquid ammonia or aqueous ammonia. Once exposed to open air, liquid ammonia quickly turns into a gas.
  • Uses:
    • The major use of ammonia is as a fertilizer. 
      • Ammonia is a basic building block for ammonium nitrate fertilizer, which releases nitrogen, an essential nutrient for growing plants.
      • About 90 percent of ammonia produced worldwide is used in fertilizer.
    • Additional uses include as a refrigerant, stabilizer, neutralizer, and purifier — particularly in food transport and water treatment applications. 
    • It can also be used in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, fabrics, dyes, and pharmaceuticals.
  • Exposure to high levels of ammonia in air may be irritating to a person’s skin, eyes, throat, and lungs and cause coughing and burns.
  • To prevent the release of toxic fumes, ammonia should not be mixed with other chemicals (especially chlorine bleach).

Source: HT

Ammonia FAQs

Q1: What is ammonia?

Ans: Ammonia is a colourless, pungent gas composed of nitrogen and hydrogen.

Q2: What is the chemical formula of ammonia?

Ans: The chemical formula of ammonia is NH₃.

Q3: Does ammonia occur naturally in the human body and environment?

Ans: Yes, ammonia exists naturally in humans and in the environment.

Q4: How is ammonia produced naturally in the environment?

Ans: It is produced through bacterial processes in soil and by the decomposition of organic matter from plants and animals.

Q5: Which industrial process is mainly used to manufacture ammonia?

Ans: Ammonia is mainly manufactured using the Haber–Bosch process.

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