Ammonia

Properties of Ammonia Colourless gas with a pungent smell Alkaline Turns moist red litmus paper blue Soluble in water Ammonia gas reacts with concentrated hydrochloric acid to form white fumes of ammonium chloride Haber Process Reactants 1. Nitrogen Obtained from Fractional Distillation of Liquid Air 2. Hydrogen Obtained from Cracking of Petroleum Fractions N2 : H2 = 1:3 Optimal Conditions 1. Temperature of 450oC 2. Pressure of 250 atm 3. Presence of Finely Divided Iron Catalyst Reversible Reaction N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) 2 NH3 (g) Displacement of Ammonia from Its Salts NH4Cl (s) + NaOH (aq) ---------> NH3 (g) + H2O (l) + NaCl (aq) Ammonium chloride is heated with sodium hydroxide to produce sodium chloride, water and ammonia gas. 2NH4Cl (s) + Ca(OH)2 (aq) ---------> 2NH3 (g) + 2H2O (l) + CaCl2 (aq)