Ammonia

By: kika lopez

Defined Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most commonly

produced industrial chemicals in the United States. It is used in industry and commerce, and also 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, animals and animal wastes.

Chemical and Physical properties

At room temperature, ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a pungent, suffocating odor.

In pure form, it is known as anhydrous ammonia and is hygroscopic (readily absorbs moisture).

Ammonia has alkaline properties and is corrosive. Ammonia gas dissolves easily in water to form

ammonium hydroxide, a caustic solution and weak base.

Ammonia gas is easily compressed and forms a clear liquid under pressure.

Ammonia is usually shipped as a compressed liquid in steel containers.

Ammonia is not highly flammable, but containers of ammonia may explode when exposed to high heat.

Nitrogen cycle and ammonia The Nitrogen CycleAlso known as the nitrification cycle, it is the process that breaks down toxic nitrogen waste products in your aquarium into less harmful components. It works like this:

First, a source of ammonia has to be present in the aquarium. Examples include decomposing organic waste, such as fish waste, decaying plants, and uneaten fish food. Respiration and other biological processes also produce ammonia.

Oxygen-loving bacteria called Nitrosomonas convert the ammonia to nitrite. Nitrite is toxic to fish, but less so than ammonia.

The Nitrobacter species of bacteria then convert the nitrite to nitrate. This byproduct of the nitrogen cycle is generally considered harmless to aquarium fish at low levels. Algae and plants then utilize the nitrate to naturally lower nitrate levels.

Once the initial "cycling" process is complete, the beneficial bacteria have reached a population large enough to efficiently process existing levels of nitrogen waste products.

Why is ammonia used in fertilisers? it provides nitrogen for plants to make

plant proteins necessary for growth and repair of plant

cells nitrogen fertilisers promote plant

growth and increase crop yields

Uses of ammonia The greatest use of ammonia is in fertilisers. Plants needs ammonia to make protein and

other growth compounds, however, most plants cannot use the N2 gas directly from the atmosphere.

Instead they have to absorb soluble nitrogen compounds from the soil.

The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into soluble nitrogen compounds that can be used by plants is called nitrogen fixation.

Industrial uses of ammonia

Ammonia is a very important industrial chemical, and is used widely in both its pure form and as a feedstock for a wide variety of other chemicals.Ammonia ranks second behind sulfuric acid in the quantity produced worldwide per year.Ammonia itself is used:As a fertiliser.In many alkaline cleansers, such as window and floor cleaners.As a refrigerant gas.Ammonia is used in the manufacture of:Fertilisers, such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium hydrogen phosphate, and urea.Nitric acid, which is used to manufacture:Ammonium nitrate fertiliser.Dyes.Fibres and plastics.Explosives, such as ammonium nitrate, trinitrotoluene (TNT) and nitroglycerine.Cyanides, which are used to:Manufacture synthetic polymers, such as nylon and acrylics.Extract gold from ore bodies.