Ammonia and Nitric Acid

I Ammonia is a gas made from hydrogen and Nitrogen and important for plants and animals. Nitric acid is a very corrosive mineral acid. Here we will discuss Ammonia and nitric acid, Preparation of Ammonia and nitric acid, properties of Ammonia and nitric acid, Structures of Ammonia and nitric acid and the uses of ammonia and nitric acid. This article will also help you to understand the basics of Ammonia and nitric acid.

Let us start with defining ammonia.

Ammonia

The ammonia chemical formula is NH3. It is a compound of hydrogen and nitrogen. Ammonia is a gas that has no colour and has a distinct pungent smell. Ammonia is a nitrogenous waste that is released by aquatic organisms more. It fulfills the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms. Ammonia serves as a precursor to 45% of the world’s fertilizers and food. Ammonia is used to synthesize many pharmaceutical products. Ammonia is also used in commercial cleaning products.

Preparation of Ammonia  

Ammonia is found in soil and air due to the decay of organisms. Soil ammonia is nitrogenous in nature.

To produce Ammonia in small quantity ammonium salt is made to react with caustic soda

2NH4Cl + Ca (OH)2 → 2NH3 +  2H2O +  CaCl2

To produce Ammonia in large quantities, Haber’s process is used.

N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) ↔ 2NH3 (g)

• For the reaction, Nitrogen and hydrogen are taken as raw materials. By scrubbing, impurities are removed from the gasses.
• Raw nitrogen and hydrogen are amalgamated together. After that compressed in a compressor at a pressure of 200 atm.
• After that the mixture is heated at 450 degrees Celsius in a converter at 200 atm.
• The mixture of hydrogen, ammonia and nitrogen is collected from the converter.

The mixture is cooled down and collected in a tank in liquid form.

Properties of Ammonia  

Physical Properties

Ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct pungent odour. Ammonia has a soapy taste. Ammonia is a very light gas more than air. Ammonia dissolves in water very quickly. Ammonia melts at room temperature.

 Chemical Properties

1. Combustibility

In the air, it is flammable.

2. Thermal Stability

Ammonia is inert. We can disintegrate Ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen by advancing over metallic impetuses that have been heated.

3. Basic Character

The compound has a propensity to provide its lone pair of electrons of nitrogen to other different atoms. Ammonia acts as a strong Lewis base.

Structure of Ammonia

The ammonia chemical formula is NH3 and its molecular weight is 17.031 g/mol. There are single bonds between the nitrogen atoms and three hydrogen atoms. The density of Ammonia is 0.73 kg/m³. The melting point of Ammonia is −77.73 °C. The Boiling Point of Ammonia is -33.34 °C.

Uses of Ammonia

• It is used to produce sodium carbonate.
• It is used to produce nitric acid.
• It is used to produce composts, for example, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, urea diammonium phosphate.
• In ice plants, Ammonia is used as a refrigerant. More frequently, we also use it as a refrigerant.
• Ammonia is used as a purging operator for glass surfaces and furniture in the furniture industry.

Nitric acid

Nitric acid has no color and is a very corrosive liquid. Nitric acid is a laboratory reagent. It is an important industrial chemical to manufacture explosive nitric acid and fertilizers. The boiling point of nitric acid is 83 °C [181 °F]). It is hazardous in nature. Nitric acid is concentrated 68% in water that is commercially available. 86% nitric acid is called fuming nitric acid.

Preparation of Nitric acid

1. Laboratory preparation

 Nitric acid is made from nitrate salt and concentrated sulphuric acid by heating them together.

 NaNO3 + H2SO4 — >  NaHSO4 + HNO3

The Vapor of nitric acid is cooled under cold water and dissolved oxide is removed by blowing a current of dry air throughout the warm acid.

2. Ostwald’s process

By Ostwald’s process, nitric acid is produced in large amounts.

4 NH3 – (Platinum gauze) — > 4NO + 6H2O

2NO + O2 — > 2 NO2

4NO2 + 2H2O + O2 — > 4 HNO3

Dilute nitric acid is concentrated by distillation till a constant point of boiling, the mixture is obtained (98%). Fuming nitric acid is obtained by distilling the acid and concentrated sulphuric acid together.

Properties of Nitric acid

• Physical properties

• Chemical Properties

It makes blue litmus paper red.

• Nitric acid can decompose on standing to form nitrogen dioxide which is brown. This is why it becomes brown over time.

4HNO3 → 4NO2 + O2 + 2H2O

• Nitric acid releases hydrogen gas with metals.

Mg + 2HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2

Mn + 2HNO3 → Mn(NO3)2 + H2

Structure of Nitric Acid

The Nitric Acid chemical formula is HNO3. There are single bonds between the nitrogen atom and two oxygen atoms and doubly bonds of the nitrogen atom with one oxygen atom. One oxygen atom is also singly bonded with a hydrogen atom.

Uses of Nitric Acid

• It is used to produce ammonium nitrates to manufacture plastic, dye, and fertilizers
• To make explosives like TNT
• In a liquid-fueled rocket as an oxidizer
• Pure form is used in the removal of the wart
• It is a chemical doping agent in electrochemistry

Conclusion

Ammonia is a gas made from hydrogen and oxygen and important for plants and animals. Nitric acid is a very corrosive mineral acid. 

Ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct pungent odor. The ammonia chemical formula is NH3 and its molecular weight is 17.031 g/mol. Ammonia is prepared by many methods, one of them is Herbert’s process. It is used to produce sodium carbonate, Nitric Acid, compost etc.

Nitric acid has no colour and is a very corrosive liquid. Nitric acid can be produced in the laboratory or by Ostwald’s process. The Nitric Acid chemical formula is HNO3. It releases hydrogen with metal. It is used to produce ammonium nitrates to manufacture plastic, dye, and fertilizers.