General Ammonia Information

Abstract

Ammonia is a colorless‚ flammable‚ toxic‚ alkaline gas. Its water solution is alkaline because much of the dissolved ammonia reacts with water to form ammonium hydroxide which is a weak base. Ammonia dissolves alkali metals‚ barium‚ calcium and strontium and forms an unstable blue solution. This solution contains the metal ion and free electrons that slowly decompose‚ release hydrogen and form the metal amide. Compared to water‚ liquid ammonia is less likely to release protons is more likely to take up protons (to form and is a stronger reducing agent 219. Ammonia takes part in many chemical reactions. Ammonia reacts with strong acids to form stable ammonium salts 219 : With hydrogen chloride‚ it forms ammonium chloride‚ With nitric acid‚ it forms ammonium nitrate‚ and With sulfuric acid‚ it forms ammonium sulfate.