Salts of Ammonia

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Ammonia is one of the important compounds of nitrogen. Hence, the salts of ammonia are also of significant importance.

Ammonium Chloride

The ammonium chloride salt is prepared by treating hydrochloric acid with ammonia.

The solution obtained is evaporated to obtain the salt of ammonium chloride. This salt is also called "Sal ammoniac".

Properties

1) Ammonium chloride is a colourless crystalline solid.

2) It is fairly soluble in water. Solubility of ammonium chloride in water is 41.4 g at 30^oC.

3) When it is dissolved in water, it absorbs heat and causes cooling.

4) When heated it undergoes dissociation to give ammonia and hydrogen chloride as follows:

Uses

1) The ammonium chloride salt is used for cleaning metal surfaces before soldering, tinning etc. The metal is first heated and rubbed with ammonium chloride. The ammonia formed removes grease, oil etc. and the hydrogen chloride removes the oxides of metals.

2) Ammonium chloride is used in the manufacturing of Leclanche cell and in dry cells.

3) It is used in medicines, dyeing etc.

4) It is used in the textile industry.

5) It is used as a laboratory reagent.

Ammonium Sulphate

Ammonium sulphate is prepared by treating sulphuric acid with ammonia.

The solution obtained is then evaporated to get the ammonium sulphate salt.

Properties

1) Ammonium sulphate is a colourless crystalline solid.

2) It is soluble in water to a great extent. The solubility of this salt in water is 78 g at 30^oC.

3) When dissolved in water it absorbs heat and causes cooling.

Uses

1) Ammonium Sulphate is used as a fertiliser.

2) It is used in the preparation of alum.

3) It is used in the preparation of other ammonium salts.

4) It is used as a laboratory reagent.

Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium nitrate prepared by treating nitric acid with ammonia.

The ammonium nitrate solution obtained is evaporated to get the salt.

Properties

1) Ammonium Nitrate is a colourless crystalline solid.

2) It is highly soluble in water. Its solubility in water is 242 g at 30^oC.

3) When heated, it melts and then decomposes to give nitrous oxide and water. It explodes when heated.

Uses

1) Ammonium nitrate is used in the manufacture of fire works.

2) It is used in the preparation of explosives.

3) It is used as a fertiliser.

Ammonium Carbonate (Sal Volatile)

When a mixture of ammonium sulphate and powdered calcium carbonate are heated and the vapour condensed, ammonium carbonate or sal volatile is obtained.

Properties

1) Ammonium carbonate is a colourless crystalline solid.

2) It is soluble in water.

3) When exposed to the atmosphere, it undergoes dissociation and hence smells of ammonia.

Uses

1) Ammonium carbonate is used as a smelling salt.

2) It is used in baking power.

3) It finds use in dyeing industry.

4) It is used as a laboratory reagent.