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I/GCSE Chemistry- Uses and tests of ammonia

Triple Award

August 5, 2021

In this I/GCSE Chemistry blog post, we will be looking at the different uses and tests of ammonia, let's get to it!

USES OF AMMONIA

Uses:

  • important source of fertiliser.
  • some is converted into nitric acid by catalytic oxidation.
  • used as an industrial and household cleaner. 

LABORATORY PREPARATION OF AMMONIA

  • To obtain pure ammonia in the laboratory any ammonium compound is dissolved in water and heated with any alkali such as a solution of sodium hydroxide. 
  • It is less dense than air, so it can be collected by upwards delivery.

TEST FOR AMMONIA

  • The test can be done by either allowing a gas jar of hydrogen chloride to mix with a gas jar of ammonia, or 
  • by dipping a glass rod in hydrochloric acid and putting it into the ammonia. 
  • The hydrochloric acid sticking to the glass will be giving off hydrogen chloride fumes, and the 

white fumes will be seen quite clearly.

AMMONIUM SALTS

Ammonium salts are made by the reaction of ammonium hydroxide with an appropriate acid. 

  • Ammonium chloride crystals are white, and soluble in water. If they are heated they dissociate into ammonia gas and hydrogen chloride gas. 
  • The reaction is reversible, so to get a good yield, the product is continually removed. The remaining nitrogen and hydrogen are recycled.

That is all for this post!

References:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fqsstudy.com%2Fchemistry%2Flab-preparation-of-ammonia&psig=AOvVaw3IHe0BXjNJeBW8WElAQxt4&ust=1628232993184000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCKjb7NummfICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedu.rsc.org%2Fexperiments%2Fmaking-and-testing-ammonia%2F433.article&psig=AOvVaw3Ot-eRDPZe7YC9onbHFXsG&ust=1628233062608000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCIDj7PymmfICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD