Ammonia

Products

Ammonia solutions are available from specialty stores (e.g., pharmacies, drugstores, hardware stores) in various concentrations. They are also known as sal ammonia or sal ammonia spirit.

Structure and properties

Ammonia (NH3) is a colorless gas with a typical pungent and unpleasant odor, which is formed from nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H2) can be obtained. In the laboratory, it can be prepared with an ammonium salt and sodium hydroxide:

  • NH4+ (ammonium ion) + OH (hydroxide) NH3 (ammonia) + H2O (water)

Ammonia is miscible with water. The concentrated ammonia solution contains between 25% and 30% percent ammonia. It is present as a clear, colorless and highly corrosive liquid with a pH of 13 and is miscible with water. It should be stored at no more than 20°C and not together with acids. In the Pharmacopoea Helvetica, the ammonia solution 10 % PH is also monographed. The amines are formally derived from ammonia.

Effects

Ammonia is basic. For example, it reacts with acids to produce the ammonium salts, such as ammonium chloride when it reacts with hydrochloric acid:

  • NH3 (ammonia) + HCl (hydrochloric acid) NH4Cl (ammonium chloride)

Together with nitric acid, ammonium nitrate is formed (NH4NO3). NH4+ is called the ammonium ion.

Areas of application

Ammonia and its solutions are rarely used medicinally today. In the past, the preparations were used, among other things, for the local treatment of insect bites, as liniment, and as a smelling agent for fainting. Ammonia is used for chemical syntheses, as a reagent, solvent, and in pharmacy for the production of active ingredient salts such as ammonium chloride or ammonium bituminosulfonate. Diluted solutions are often used as cleaning agents, for example for glass, porcelain or metals.

Abuse

Ammonia can be used to make cocaine base (freebase). This is the deprotonated and smokable form of cocaine. Ammonia is also abused as a chemical for the illegal production of narcotics such as methamphetamine. At the 2018 World Cup, some Russian players inhaled ammonia as a performance-enhancing agent shortly before they played. However, ammonia has not yet been banned as a doping agent (as of 12/2018). When ammonia solution is added to elemental iodine crystals, the labile and highly explosive iodine nitrogen (NI3). Dry iodine nitrogen explodes with a loud bang at even a slight touch, which can cause hearing damage and injury.

Adverse effects

The concentrated solution may cause severe burns to the skin and eyes and irritation to the respiratory tract. Therefore, the precautions in the Material Safety Data Sheet should be carefully observed during handling. When working with the concentrated solution, protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection should be worn. The work should be carried out under the fume hood.