Occurrence of Ammonia

In Free State

• Ammonia is present in atmospheric air and in natural water in trace amounts. However in sewage water, it is present in greater proportion.
• It is also produced by decay of plant and animal tissues.
• Ammonia is released into the atmosphere by the decomposition of organic wastes of humans.

Remember :

An adult human excretes about 30 g of urea a day. Bacteria, act upon such nitrogenous organic matters like the urea (in the urine) and the excreta of animals to release ammonia. This accounts for the peculiar unpleasant odour near unclean public toilets, stables, etc.

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In the Combined Form

Ammonia is present in the combined form as various ammonium salts. The two most popular salts are ammonium chloride and ammonium sulphate.