ANHYDROUS AMMONIA PROPERTIES

Anhydrous ammonia is the compound formed by the combination of the two gaseous elements, nitrogen and
hydrogen, in the proportion of one part nitrogen and three parts of hydrogen by volume. Since one volume of
nitrogen weighs fourteen times as much as one volume of hydrogen, on a weight basis, the ratio is fourteen
parts of nitrogen to three parts of hydrogen, or about 82% nitrogen and 18% hydrogen.
At atmospheric temperatures and pressures, anhydrous ammonia is pungent colorless gas. Anhydrous
Ammonia boils at -28NF and freezes to a white crystalline mass at -107.9NF. When heated above its critical
temperature of 270.3NF ammonia exists only as a vapor regardless of the pressure. Between the melting
and critical points, liquid ammonia exerts a vapor pressure, which increases with rising temperature. When
liquid ammonia is in a closed container it is in equilibrium with ammonia vapor and the pressure within the
container bears a definite relationship to the temperature.
Ammonia liquid is lighter than water, having a density of 42.57 pounds per cubic foot at -28NF, while as a
vapor, ammonia is lighter than air, its relative density being 0.5970 compared to air at atmospheric pressure
and temperature of 32NF. Under the latter conditions, one pound of ammonia vapor occupies a volume of
22.5 cubic feet and yields 45 cubic feet of dissociated gas at a ration of 25% nitrogen and 75% hydrogen.
Because of its great affinity for water, care must be taken in the storage and handling of ammonia to keep it
dry. "Anhydrous" means "without water". When ammonia gas is dissolved in water, the resulting material is
called ammonium hydroxide or "Aqua" ammonia. The two materials, anhydrous ammonia and aqua
ammonia should not be confused.
PHYSICAL CONSTANTS OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA
Molecular symbol
Molecular weight
Boiling point at one atmosphere
Freezing point at one atmosphere
Critical temperature
Critical pressure
Vapor density at -28NF and one atmosphere
Heat of combustion

NH3
17.032
-28NF
-107.9NF
270.32NF
1657 psia
0.05555 lb./cu.ft.
8001 Btu/lb.

This Information offered by ARTA as reference materials only! All information certified: UL Document
Verification
Assessment 1995
File T7 NC2068
Revised: 5/1996