Ammoniaki

Ammoniaki, or ammonia, is a colorless gas with a pungent, irritating odor. Its chemical formula is NH3. At room temperature it is gaseous, but it can form a liquid under pressure. It has a boiling point of -33.3°C and a melting point of -77.7°C. In water it forms ammonium hydroxide, NH4OH, a weak base. Ammonia is highly soluble in water and is lighter than air, enabling rapid dispersion in open spaces.

Industrial ammonia is produced by the Haber-Bosch process, which combines nitrogen from the air with hydrogen usually derived from natural gas. It is a key feedstock for the manufacture of fertilizers—including urea, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate—and is also used to synthesize other chemicals such as nitric acid. In nature, ammonia is produced by microbial processes in soils and water and is released during the decomposition of organic material.

The largest use of ammonia is as a fertilizer or fertilizer precursor. It is also employed as a refrigerant (R-717) in industrial chillers, as a cleaning agent, in the manufacture of polymers and pharmaceuticals, and in gas-based scrubbing systems.

Ammonia gas is irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. High concentrations can cause pulmonary edema and asphyxiation. It is stored as a compressed gas or refrigerated liquid in corrosion-resistant containers; materials excluding copper-containing alloys are typically recommended. Good ventilation and gas detection are important to safety. Accidental releases can form irritating vapors and contribute to environmental harm.

Environmentally, ammonia contributes to nutrient loading in water bodies and can acidify ecosystems. It also participates in atmospheric reactions that form fine particulates and nitrate deposition. Regulatory frameworks govern its production, storage, transport, and emissions to protect workers and the environment.