Ammonium hydroxide, also known as liquid ammonia, is a chemical compound composed of ammonia (NH3) and water (H2O). It has a simple molecular structure, consisting of a nitrogen atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Its properties include the ability to dissolve easily in water, forming an alkaline solution. It is a highly hygroscopic compound, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from the air. Furthermore, it is a colorless, flammable, and highly toxic liquid in high concentrations.
Ammonium hydroxide has a variety of industrial uses, commonly used in the manufacture of cleaning products, the fertilizer industry, the textile industry, and chemical production. It is also used as a cleaning agent in household applications and as a neutralizing agent in industrial processes. However, due to its toxicity, it is essential to handle it with care and follow recommended safety precautions.
Applications of ammonium hydroxide in the chemical industry and wastewater treatment.
Ammonium hydroxide, also known as liquid ammonia, is a chemical compound with the formula NH4OH. It is widely used in the chemical industry due to its properties as a solvent, neutralizing agent, and reducing agent. Additionally, ammonium hydroxide is used in wastewater treatment, primarily for its ability to neutralize acids and control pH.
In the chemical industry, ammonium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of fertilizers, cleaning products, pharmaceuticals, and other products. It acts as a neutralizing agent in acid-base neutralization processes and as a solvent in chemical reactions. Furthermore, ammonium hydroxide is used as a reducing agent in various industrial processes.
In wastewater treatment, ammonium hydroxide is used to control pH and neutralize acids present in the water. It is effective in removing heavy metals and other pollutants, contributing to improving water quality and environmental preservation. Furthermore, ammonium hydroxide is also used in the treatment of industrial effluents, helping to reduce the pollutant load released into the environment.
In summary, ammonium hydroxide plays a fundamental role in the chemical industry and wastewater treatment, being used as a solvent, neutralizing agent, reducing agent, and pH controller. Its diverse properties and uses make it a versatile and essential substance in various industrial and environmental processes.
Properties of ammonia: characteristics and uses of the chemical substance commonly found in nature.
Ammonia Ammonia is a chemical substance commonly found in nature and has a variety of properties and uses. It is a compound formed by one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms, represented by the formula NH3. Its molecular structure is trigonal pyramidal, which gives ammonia its unique characteristics.
One of ammonia's main properties is its ability to act as a base, reacting with acids to form salts. Furthermore, it is highly water-soluble and has a characteristic, irritating odor.
Ammonia is widely used in the fertilizer industry, serving as an important source of nitrogen for plants. It is also used in the production of chemicals such as nitric acid and urea.
Ammonium hydroxide: structure, properties and uses
O ammonium hydroxide, Also known as liquid ammonia, is an aqueous solution of ammonia. Its chemical formula is NH4OH, and it is formed by the dissolution of ammonia in water.
One of the main properties of ammonium hydroxide is its ability to act as a weak base, allowing it to react with acids to form salts. Furthermore, it is a volatile and flammable substance and should be handled with care.
Ammonium hydroxide is used in cleaning products, the cosmetics industry, and even food production. Its ability to act as a neutralizing agent makes it a versatile and indispensable substance in various industrial processes.
Why is ammonium hydroxide important for various industrial and agricultural sectors?
Ammonium hydroxide, also known as liquid ammonia, is an essential chemical substance for various industrial and agricultural sectors due to its versatile properties and applications.
First, ammonium hydroxide is widely used in the cleaning and disinfection industry, being a common ingredient in household and industrial cleaning products. Its ability to dissolve grease and dirt makes it an effective cleaning agent for a variety of surfaces.
Furthermore, ammonium hydroxide is used in the fertilizer and agrochemical industries, serving as an essential nitrogen source for plant growth. Its application as a liquid fertilizer provides rapid and efficient absorption by crops, contributing to healthy and vigorous plant development.
Another sector that benefits from ammonium hydroxide is water and wastewater treatment. Its ability to neutralize acids and regulate water pH makes it an important agent in the purification and treatment of industrial wastewater, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
In summary, ammonium hydroxide plays a fundamental role in various industrial and agricultural sectors due to its unique chemical properties and versatile applications. Its importance as a cleaning agent, fertilizer, and water treatment makes it indispensable for ensuring the efficiency and sustainability of industrial and agricultural processes.
Where to find ammonium hydroxide?
Ammonium hydroxide, also known as liquid ammonia, can be found in a variety of cleaning products, including glass cleaners, stain removers, and degreasers. It's also used in the fertilizer and chemical industries to manufacture other chemical compounds.
Although found in some household products, it's important to keep ammonium hydroxide out of reach of children and pets, as it can be toxic if ingested. Always read the labels of the products you use carefully and follow the safety instructions.
In the event of spills or accidents involving ammonium hydroxide, it is recommended to use appropriate protective equipment, such as gloves and goggles, and to ventilate the area well to avoid inhaling the vapors.
In short, ammonium hydroxide can be found in cleaning products and the chemical industry, but it is important to handle it with care due to its potential health risks.
Ammonium hydroxide: structure, properties and uses
O ammonium hydroxide is a compound with molecular formula NH 4 OH or H 5 NO produced by the dissolution of ammonia gas (NH 3 ) in water. For this reason, it is called ammonia water or liquid ammonia.
It is a colorless liquid with a very intense, sharp odor that is not isolated. These characteristics are directly related to the concentration of NH 3 dissolved in water; concentration that, in fact, being a gas, can cover large quantities dissolved in a small volume of water.
A considerably small part of these aqueous solutions is composed of NH cations 4 + and OH anions . On the other hand, in very dilute solutions or in frozen solid at very low temperatures ammonia can be in the form of hydrates such as NH 3 ∙ H 2 The 2NH 3 ∙ H 2 O and NH 3 ∙ 2H 2 O.
Interestingly, Jupiter's clouds are formed by dilute solutions of ammonium hydroxide. However, the Galileo space probe failed to find water in the planet's clouds, which would be expected from the knowledge of ammonium hydroxide formation; that is, they are crystals of NH 4 OH completely anhydrous.
The ammonium ion (NH 4 + ) is produced in the renal tubular lumen by the union of ammonia and hydrogen, secreted by the renal tubular cells. In addition, ammonium is produced in the renal tubular cells in the process of converting glutamine to glutamate and, in turn, in the conversion of glutamate to α-ketoglutarate.
Ammonia is produced industrially by the Haber-Bosch method, in which nitrogen and hydrogen gases are reacted using ferric ions, aluminum oxide, and potassium oxide as catalysts. The reaction is carried out at high pressures (150–300 atmospheres) and high temperatures (400–500°C), with a yield of 10–20%.
The reaction produces ammonia, which oxidizes to form nitrites and nitrates. These are essential for producing nitric acid and fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate.
Chemical structure
As its definition indicates, ammonium hydroxide consists of an aqueous solution of ammonia gas. Therefore, within the liquid, there is no defined structure other than a random arrangement of NH ions. 4 + and OH solvated by water molecules.
Ammonium and hydroxyl ions are products of a balance of ammonia hydrolysis, so it is common for these solutions to have a pungent odor:
NH 3 (g) + H 2 O(l) <=> NH 4 + (aq) + OH (aq)
According to the chemical equation, a large decrease in water concentration would shift the equilibrium towards the formation of more ammonia; that is, when ammonium hydroxide is heated, ammonia vapors will be released.
For this reason, NH ions 4 + and OH do not form a crystal under terrestrial conditions, which results in the absence of the solid base of NH 4 ooh
The solid in question must be composed only of ions interacting electrostatically (as seen in the image).
Ammonia ice
However, at temperatures well below 0°C, and surrounded by enormous pressures, such as those prevailing in the cores of icy moons, ammonia and water freeze. In doing so, they crystallize into a solid mixture with different stoichiometric proportions, the simplest being NH 3 ∙ H 2 O: ammonia monohydrate.
The NH 3 ∙ H 2 O and NH 3 ∙ 2H 2 The are ammonia ice, then the solid is a crystalline arrangement of water and ammonia molecules held together by hydrogen bonds.
Given a change in T and P, according to computational studies that simulate all the physical variables and their effects on this ice, a transition from a NH phase occurs 3 ∙ nH 2 O for an NH phase 4 ooh
Therefore, only under these extreme conditions, NH 4 OH can exist as protonation of the product within the ice between NH 3 and H 2 O:
NH 3 (s) + H 2 O(s) <=> NH 4 OH (s)
Note that this time, unlike ammonia hydrolysis, the species involved are in a solid phase: an ammonia ice that becomes salty without releasing ammonia.
Physical and chemical properties
Molecular formula
NH 4 OH or H 5 DO NOT
Molecular weight
35,046g/mol
Appearance
It is a colorless liquid.
Concentration
Up to approximately 30% (for NH ions) 4 + and OH ).
Smell
Very strong and sharp.
Sabor
Acre.
Limit value
34 ppm for nonspecific detection.
Point of sale
38 ° C (25%).
Solubility
It exists only in aqueous solution.
Water solubility
Miscible in unlimited proportions.
Densidade
0,90 g/cm³ at 25°C.
Vapor density
In relation to the air removed as a unit: 0,6. That is, it is less dense than air. However, logically, the reported value refers to ammonia as a gas, not to its aqueous solutions or to NH 4 ooh
Press conference
2.160 mmHg at 25 ° C.
Corrosive action
It is capable of dissolving zinc and copper.
pH
11,6 (1 N solution); 11,1 (0,1 N solution) N ) and 10,6 (0,01 N solution).
Dissociation constant
pKb = 4.767; Kb = 1,71 x 10 -5 at 20 ° C
pKb = 4.751; Kb = 1.774 x 10 -5 at 25°C.
Increasing the temperature almost imperceptibly increases the basicity of ammonium hydroxide.
Nomenclature
What are the common and official names that NH 4 OH receives ? As established by IUPAC, its name is ammonium hydroxide because it contains the hydroxyl anion.
Ammonium, because of its +1 charge, is monovalent; therefore, using stock nomenclature, it is named as: ammonium(I) hydroxide.
Although the use of the term ammonium hydroxide is technically incorrect, since the compound is not isolated (at least not on Earth, as explained in detail in the first section).
Also, ammonium hydroxide is called ammonia water and liquid ammonia.
Solubility
The NH 4 OH, since it does not exist as salt under terrestrial conditions, it is not possible to estimate how soluble it is in different solvents.
However, it would be expected to be extremely soluble in water, since its dissolution would release large amounts of NH 3 . Theoretically, it would be an amazing way to store and transport ammonia.
In other solvents capable of accepting hydrogen bonds, such as alcohols and amines, it would be expected to be very soluble in them as well. Here the cation NH 4 + is a hydrogen bond donor and the OH serves as both.
Examples of these interactions with methanol would be: H 3 N + -H – OHCH 3 and HO – HOCH 3 (OHCH 3 indicates that oxygen receives the hydrogen bond, not that the methyl group is bonded to H).
Risks
-Contact with eyes causes irritation that can cause eye damage.
It is corrosive. Therefore, contact with skin can cause irritation and, in high concentrations, can cause skin burns. Repeated contact of ammonium hydroxide with skin can cause dryness, itching, and redness (dermatitis).
-Inhaling ammonium hydroxide spray can cause acute respiratory tract irritation, characterized by choking, coughing, or shortness of breath. Prolonged or repeated exposure to the substance can result in recurrent bronchial infections. Inhaling ammonium hydroxide can also cause lung irritation.
-Exposure to high concentrations of ammonium hydroxide can be a medical emergency, as fluid may accumulate in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
-The concentration of 25 ppm was taken as the exposure limit, in an 8-hour shift, in an environment in which the worker is exposed to the harmful action of ammonium hydroxide.
Reactivity
-In addition to the possible health damage caused by exposure to ammonium hydroxide, there are other precautions that must be taken into account when working with the substance.
Ammonium hydroxide can react with many metals, such as silver, copper, lead, and zinc. It also reacts with the salts of these metals to form explosive compounds and release hydrogen gas, which in turn is flammable and explosive.
-It can react violently with strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid. It also reacts violently with dimethyl sulfate and halogens.
– Reacts with strong bases, such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, producing gaseous ammonia. This can be verified by observing the equilibrium of the solution, in which the addition of OH ions alters the equilibrium towards the formation of NH 3 .
-Do not use copper and aluminum metals, as well as other galvanized metals, when handling ammonium hydroxide, due to its corrosive action on them.
Uses
In the food
-It is used as an additive in many foods where it serves as a leavening agent, pH control, and surface finishing agent.
-The list of foods in which ammonium hydroxide is used is extensive and includes baked goods, cheeses, chocolates, sweets and puddings.
-Ammonium hydroxide is listed as a harmless substance by the FDA for food processing, as long as established standards are followed.
-In meat products, it is used as an antimicrobial agent, eliminating bacteria such as E. coli, reducing it to undetectable levels. The bacteria are found in the intestines of cattle and adapt to the acidic environment. Ammonium hydroxide, by regulating pH, hinders bacterial growth.
Therapeutic
-Ammonium hydroxide has several therapeutic uses, including:
-10% solution is used as a respiratory reflex stimulant
-Externally, it is used on the skin to treat insect bites and stings.-It acts on the digestive system as an antacid and carminative, that is, it helps eliminate gas.
It is also used as a topical treatment for acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain. As a result of ammonium hydroxide's rubefacient action, there is increased local blood flow, redness, and irritation.
Industrial and miscellaneous
-Act in the reduction of NOx (very reactive gases such as nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )) for battery emissions and the reduction of NOx in chimney emissions.
-It is used as a plasticizing agent; paint additive and for surface treatment.
-Increases hair porosity, allowing dye pigments to penetrate more deeply, resulting in a better finish.
Ammonium hydroxide is used as an antimicrobial agent in wastewater treatment. It is also involved in the synthesis of chloramine. This substance plays a similar role to chlorine in purifying pool water, with the advantage of being less toxic.
-It is used as a corrosion inhibitor in the oil refining process.
-It is used as a cleaning agent in various industrial and commercial products, being used on various surfaces, including: stainless steel, porcelain, glass and oven.
-Additionally, it is used in the production of detergents, soaps, pharmaceuticals and paints.
In the farming
Although not directly used as a fertilizer, ammonium hydroxide fulfills this function. Ammonia is produced from atmospheric nitrogen using the Haber-Bosch method and is transported refrigerated below its boiling point (-33°C) to its intended use.
Pressurized ammonia is injected, in vapor form, into the soil, where it immediately reacts with soil water and changes to the ammonium form (NH 4 + ), which is retained in the soil's cation exchange sites. In addition, ammonium hydroxide is produced. These compounds are a source of nitrogen.
Together with phosphorus and potassium, nitrogen constitutes the triad of main plant nutrients, essential for their growth.
References
- Ganong, W.F. (2002). Medical Physiology. 19th edition. Modern manual publishing.
- A. D. Fortes, J. P. Brodholt, I. G. Wood and L. Vocadlo. (2001) Ab initio simulation of ammonia monohydrate (NH 3 ∙ H 2 O) and ammonium hydroxide (NH 4 OH). American Institute of Physics. J. Chem. Phys., Vol. 115, No. 15, 15.
- Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (February 6, 2017). Facts About Ammonium Hydroxide. Retrieved from: thoughtco.com
- Pochteca Group. (2015). Ammonium hydroxide pochteca.com.mx
- NJ Health (n.d.). Hazardous Substances Fact Sheet: Ammonium Hydroxide. [PDF]. Retrieved from: nj.gov
- Chemistry Student. (2018). Ammonium hydroxide. Retrieved from: chemistrylearner.com
- PubChem (2018). Ammonium hydroxide. Retrieved from: pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov