introduction: Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most commonly produced industrial chemicals -1

in the United States. It is used in industry and commerce, and also exists naturally in humans
and in the environment. Ammonia is essential for many biological processes

Ammonia is alkaline gas has no color. Made up of one nitrogen and three parts hydrogen
.portions, which is lighter than air and has a characteristic pungent odor

Physical Properties of Ammonia:1-2

. Ammonia is a colorless gas

 It has a pungent odor with and an alkaline or soapy taste. When inhaled suddenly, it brings
.tears into the eyes

. It is lighter than air and is therefore collected by the downward displacement of air

 It is highly soluble in water: One volume of water dissolves about 1300 volumes of
ammonia gas. It is due to its high solubility in water that the gas cannot be collected over
.water

Chemical Properties of Ammonia:2-2

Thermal stability Ammonia is highly stable. However, it can be decomposed into hydrogen
and nitrogen by passing over heated metallic catalysts or when electric discharge is passed
.through it

2NH3 →N2+3H2

Combustibility Ammonia is combustible in air. However, it will burn in an atmosphere of

oxygen 4NH3 +3O2 →2N2 +6H2O

USES OF AMMONIA-3

About 80% or more of the ammonia produced is used for fertilizing agricultural crops in the
form of aqua ammonia (an aqueous solution of ammonia), ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4,
ammonium phosphate (NH4)3PO4, ammonium nitrate NH4NO3 and urea (NH2)2CO. Some
.anhydrous liquid ammonia is also used directly as a fertilizer(4)

:Ammonia is also used for

 Manufacture of nitric acid (HNO3)

 Manufacture of nylon and other polyamides

 Refrigerant in household, commercial and industrial refrigeration systems

 Manufacture of dye

:Ammonia production -4

facilities provide the base anhydrous liquid ammonia used predominantly in fertilizers
supplying usable nitrogen for agricultural productivity. Ammonia is one of the most
abundantly-produced inorganic chemicals. There are literally dozens of large-scale ammonia
production plants throughout the industrial world, some of which produce as much as 2,000
to 3,000 tons per day of anhydrous ammonia in liquid form. The worldwide production in
.2006 was 122,000,000 metric tons