Ammonia

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the chemical formula NH 3. It is a colorless gas with a pungent odor and is used in many cleaning supplies. Ammonia, either directly or indirectly, is also a building-block for the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals. Because NH 3 boils at −33.34 °C (−28.012 °F) at a pressure of 1 atmosphere, the liquid must be stored under high pressure or at low temperature. The molar mass of ammonia is 17.031 g/mol. Ammonia is easily dissolved in water producing ammonium hydroxide solution.

Household ammonia ranges in concentration from 5 to 10 weight percent ammonia. The ammonia molecule has a triagonal pyramidal shape with a bond angle of 107.8°. Because of its many uses, ammonia is one of the most highly produced inorganic chemicals.

How is ammonia used?
About 80% of the ammonia produced in the industry is used in agriculture as fertilizer. Ammonia is also used as a refrigerant gas, to purify water supplies, and in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, fabrics, pesticides, dyes and other chemicals. It is found in many household and industrial-strength __cleaning solutions__. Cleaning solutions for industrial use contain higher concentrations of ammonia and can quickly cause irritation and burns.

History


This high-pressure reactor was built in 1921 by BASF in Ludwigshafen and was re-erected on the premises of the University of Karlsruhe in Germany.

The Romans called the ammonium chloride deposits they collected from near the Temple of Jupiter Amun (Greek Ἄμμων Ammon) in ancient Libya 'sal ammoniacus' (salt of Amun) because of proximity to the nearby temple.[10] Salts of ammonia have been known from very early times; thus the term Hammoniacus sal appears in the writings of Pliny,[11]although it is not known whether the term is identical with the more modern sal-ammoniac(ammonium chloride).[12] In the form of sal-ammoniac (nushadir) ammonia was important to the Muslim alchemistsas early as the 8th century, first mentioned by the Persian chemist Jābir ibn Hayyān,[13]and to the European alchemists since the 13th century, being mentioned by Albertus Magnus.[14] It was also used by dyers in the Middle Ages in the form of fermented urine to alter the colour of vegetable dyes. In the 15th century, Basilius Valentinus showed that ammonia could be obtained by the action of alkalis on sal-ammoniac. At a later period, when sal-ammoniac was obtained by distilling the hooves and horns of oxen and neutralizing the resulting carbonate with hydrochloric acid, the name “spirit of hartshorn” was applied to ammonia.[14][15] Gaseous ammonia was first isolated by Joseph Priestley in 1774 and was termed by him "alkaline air".[16] Eleven years later in 1785, Claude Louis Berthollet ascertained its composition.[14] The Haber-Bosch process to produce ammonia from the nitrogen in the air was developed byFritz Haber and Carl Bosch in 1909 and patented in 1910. It was first used on an industrial scale by the Germans during World War I,[7] following the allied blockade that cut off the supply of nitrates from Chile. The ammonia was used to produce explosives to sustain their war effort.[17] Prior to the availability of cheap natural gas, hydrogen as a precursor to ammonia productionwas produced via the electrolysis of water or using the chloralkali process. The Vemork 60 MW hydroelectric plant in Norway, constructed in 1911, was used purely for plants using the Birkeland-Eyde process.

__**Ammonia's Natural Occurances**__ Ammonia is found in trace quantities in the atmosphere, being produced from the putrefaction (decay process) of nitrogenous animal and vegetable matter. Ammonia and ammonium salts are also found in small quantities in rainwater, whereas ammonium chloride (sal-ammoniac), and ammonium sulfate are found in volcanic districts; crystals of ammonium bicarbonate have been found in Patagonian guano. The kidneys secrete NH3 to neutralize excess acid. Ammonium salts also are found distributed through all fertile soil and in seawater. Substances containing ammonia, or those that are similar to it, are called //ammoniacal//. Ammonia is found on Pluto, Jupiter and, in small amounts, on Uranus.

How can people be exposed to ammonia?
Most people are exposed to ammonia from breathing its gas or vapors. Since ammonia exists and is also present in cleaning products, exposure may occur from these sources. The widespread use of ammonia on farms and in industrial and commercial locations means that exposure can also occur from an accidental release or from a deliberate terrorist attack. Ammonia gas is lighter than air and will rise, so that generally it does not settle in low-lying areas. However, in the presence of moisture, ammonia can form vapors that are heavier than air. These vapors can spread along the ground or other low-lying areas. When ammonia enters the body as a result of breathing, swallowing or skin contact, it reacts with water to produce ammonium hydroxide.

This chemical is very corrosive and damages cells in the body on contact. Ammonia is a base. It is hazardous if consumed and if large amounts are spilled onto oneself.





Ammonia is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the United States. Ammonia can be produced by the human body and is also found in nature. Ammonia gas is lighter than air and will rise, so that generally it does not settle in low-lying areas. However, in the presence of moisture, ammonia can form vapors that are heavier than air. These vapors can spread along the ground or other low-lying areas. __**Toxicity**__ The toxicity of ammonia solutions does not usually cause problems for humans and other mammals, as a specific mechanism exists to prevent its build-up in the bloodstream. Ammonia is converted to carbamoyl phosphate by the enzyme carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, and then enters the urea cycle to be either incorporated into amino acids or excreted in the urine. However, fish and amphibians lack this mechanism, as they can usually eliminate ammonia from their bodies by direct excretion. Ammonia even at dilute concentrations is highly toxic to aquatic animals, and for this reason it is classified as //dangerous for the environment//.

Textile
Liquid ammonia is used for treatment of cotton materials, give a properties like [|mercerisation] using alkalies. In particular, it is used for prewashing of wool. [|[57]]

==What can you do if you think you may have been exposed to a large release of ammonia? == If you have been exposed to a large release of ammonia such as from a tanker truck rollover or from a leaking tanker rail car, take the following steps:
 * Quickly move away from the area where you think you were exposed. If the release was indoors, go outside.
 * If you are near a release of ammonia, emergency coordinators may tell you to either evacuate the area or to "shelter in place." To "shelter in place" means to remain indoors to avoid being exposed to the chemical. While indoors, shut and lock all doors and windows; turn off air conditioners, fans and heaters; and close fireplace dampers.
 * For more information on evacuation during a chemical emergency, see [|//Facts About Evacuation//] . For more information on sheltering in place during a chemical emergency, see [|//Facts About Sheltering in Place//].


 * Quickly remove any clothing that may have ammonia on it. If possible, clothing that is normally removed over the head (like t-shirts and sweaters) should be cut off the body to prevent additional contact with the agent.
 * Place your clothing inside a plastic bag and seal the bag tightly.
 * Do not handle the plastic bag, and wait for instructions on proper disposal.
 * Disposing of your clothing in a sealed bag helps protect you and other people from any additional exposure.
 * Store the bagged clothing in a secure location away from people, especially children.


 * Quickly wash any ammoinia from your skin with large amounts of soap and water, and flush your eyes with large amounts of water.
 * Remove and dispose of contact lenses.
 * Wash eyeglasses with soap and water before wearing.
 * Do not use bleach to remove ammonia from your skin.

http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/ammonia_general.htm
 * If needed, seek medical attention right away.