Ammonia

Ammonia (NH₃) is a colourless gas at room temperature. It has a pungent, sharp smell, similar to household cleaning products. Highly soluble in water, forming Ammonium Hydroxide (NH₄OH), a weak base. When compressed or cooled, Ammonia liquefies and appears as a colourless liquid. At extremely low temperatures (-77.7°C or -107.9°F), it turns into a white crystalline solid.

Common uses of Ammonia:

• Used to make fertilisers (Ammonium Nitrate, Urea) to enhance plant growth.
• Directly applied as anhydrous ammonia in soil to increase nitrogen content.
• Used in the production of plastics, explosives, dyes and textiles.
• Acts as a refrigerant in industrial cooling systems (R-717).
• Found in glass cleaners, oven cleaners and disinfectants.
• Removes grease and dirt from surfaces.
• Helps in neutralising acidic waste and purifying water.
• Used in the chloramination process for disinfecting drinking water.
• Used in dyeing fabrics and in leather tanning processes.
• Being explored as a carbon-free fuel alternative in energy production.