Study of Components (Ammonia)

Lab preparation of Ammonia

 Reaction involved: 2𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙 + 𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 → 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2 + 2𝐻2 𝑂 + 2𝑁𝐻3
 Passed through quicklime to produce dry ammonia
 Collected by downward displacement of air (lighter than air; vapour density is 8.5
 Cannot be collected over water due to high solubility
Manufacture of ammonia by Haber’s process:
 The manufacture of ammonia by Haber's process involves the direct combination
of 𝑁2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐻2
 Nitrogen is obtained by fractional distillation of liquid air
 𝑁2 is also prepared by heating ammonium nitrite (or a mixture of sodium nitrite and
∆
ammonium chloride) 𝑁𝐻4 𝑁𝑂2 → 𝑁2 + 2𝐻2 𝑂
 This reaction is (a) Reversible, (b) Exothermic, and (c) Proceeds with a decrease in volume.
According to the Le Chatelier’s principle, the favourable conditions for the formation of
ammonia are
1. Low temperature
2. High pressure
3. Catalyst (Molybdenum or alumina)
Ammonia from nitrides

 𝑀𝑔3 𝑁2 + 6𝐻2 𝑂 → 3𝑀𝑔(𝑂𝐻)2 + 2𝑁𝐻3 ↑

 𝐴𝑙𝑁 + 3𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐴𝑙(𝑂𝐻)3 + 𝑁𝐻3 ↑
 Ammonia liberated is collected by holding the collecting jar mouth downwards over delivery
tube. Gas is dried by passing it through CaO packed in a drying tower
 Warm water is used in the process
Properties of Ammonia:
Reaction of aqueous solution of ammonia:
With acids:
 𝑁𝐻𝟒 𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 → 𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
 2𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 → (𝑁𝐻4 )2 𝑆𝑂4 + 2𝐻2 𝑂
 𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻𝑁𝑂3 → 𝑁𝐻4 𝑁𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑂
With iron (III)chloride:
 𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙3 + 3𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻 → 3𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙 + 𝐹𝑒(𝑂𝐻)3 ↓ (Reddish brown ppt., insoluble in excess 0f
𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻)
With iron (II)sulphate:
 𝐹𝑒𝑆𝑂4 + 2𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻 → (𝑁𝐻4 )2 𝑆𝑂4 + 𝐹𝑒(𝑂𝐻)2 ↓ (Dirty green ppt., insoluble in excess 0f
𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻)
With lead nitrate:
𝑃𝑏(𝑁𝑂3 )2 + 2𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻 → 2𝑁𝐻4 𝑁𝑂3 + 𝑃𝑏(𝑂𝐻)2 ↓ (White ppt., insoluble in excess 0f
𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻)
With copper sulphate :
 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 + 2𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻 → (𝑁𝐻4 )2 𝑆𝑂4 + 𝐶𝑢(𝑂𝐻)2 ↓ (Pale blue ppt., insoluble in excess 0f
𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻, to form deep blue solution complex salt – tetra amine copper [II] sulphate)
 𝐶𝑢(𝑂𝐻)2 + (𝑁𝐻4 )2 𝑆𝑂4 + 2𝑁𝐻4 𝑂𝐻 → [𝐶𝑢(𝑁𝐻3 )𝑆𝑂4 ] + 4𝐻2 𝑂
Reactions of ammonia
With hydrogen chloride:
𝑁𝐻3 (𝑔) + 𝐻𝐶𝑙(𝑔) → 𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙(𝑠) (2 colourless gases react to form a white solid)
Reducing action
 Reduction of metallic oxides
With hot copper (II) oxide (Ammonia reduces heated metal oxides to give metal,
2𝑁𝐻3 + 3𝐶𝑢𝑂 (𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘 ) → 3𝐶𝑢 (𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑛) + 3𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐻2 ↑
 Reduction of chlorine
Case 1: When ammonia is in excess amount
 When 𝐶𝑙2 reacts with 𝑁𝐻3 it is reduced to HCL, which can combine with excess of
𝑁𝐻3 to form 𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙.
  2𝑁𝐻3 + 3𝐶𝑙2 → 𝑁2 + 6𝐻𝐶𝑙
 2𝑁𝐻3 + 6𝐻𝐶𝑙 → 6𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙
 8𝑁𝐻3 + 3𝐶𝑙2 → 𝑁2 + 6𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙 (yellowish green colour of 𝐶𝑙2 disappears, white fumes
of 𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙 are formed)
Case 2: When chlorine is in excess amount
 𝑁𝐻3 + 3𝐶𝑙2 → 3𝐻𝐶𝑙 (liquid nitrogen trichloride is yellow and highly explosive)
Catalytic oxidation of ammonia
 Ammonia reacts with 𝑂2 at 800°C in the presence of Platinum to give nitric oxide
and 𝐻2 𝑂. (This reaction is used in the Ostwald process for manufacture of nitric acid)
800°𝐶
 4𝑁𝐻3 + 5𝑂2 → 6𝐻2 𝑂 + 4𝑁𝑂 ↑
 2𝑁𝑂 + 𝑂2 → 2𝑁𝑂2 (brown gas)

Reaction with oxygen

 Ammonia doesn’t support combustion, doesn’t burn in air. Burns in 𝐶𝑂2 with yellowish
green flame
 4𝑁𝐻3 + 3𝑂2 → 2𝑁2 + 6𝐻2 𝑂
 Irreversible, highly exothermic.
Use of Ammonia:
 Ammonia in Fertilizer
 Ammonia in Household Cleaning Products
 Ammonia in Industrial/Manufacturing Uses
Etc.