What is Ammonium Chloride Definition Formula Reactions and Uses
A chemical compound is a compound which is formed from the atoms of different elements combined in a specific ratio. The various types of atoms are joined by chemical bonds. Every compound has a fixed ratio between the elements. The elements combine together so strongly that the compound behaves like one substance.
Chemical compounds can be in the form of liquid such as water, which is made from the atoms of hydrogen and oxygen sticking together. Chemical compounds can be in the form of solid such as sodium chloride which is made from the atoms of sodium and chlorine sticking together. Some chemical compounds are dangerous to use if they are not handled with proper safety measures. There are many chemical compounds, which we use in our daily life, and today we will talk about such a chemical Compound.
Overview of Ammonium Chloride
Ammonium chloride is an inorganic chemical compound. Ammonium Chloride is a white crystalline salt that is highly soluble in water. Ammonium Chloride is composed of ammonium and chloride ions. Ammonium Chloride is a colourless chemical compound. The nature of the solutions of ammonium chloride is mildly acidic. The other names of ammonium chloride are Sal ammoniac, Salmiac, Nushadir salt, Sal Armagnac, Salt Armoniack, Salmiak.
Sal ammoniac is a natural, mineralogical form of ammonium chloride. Sal ammoniac is generally formed on burning coal dumps from the condensation of coal-derived gases. Sal ammoniac is also found around some types of volcanic vents. Sal ammoniac is majorly used as fertiliser and a flavouring agent in some types of liquor. Sal ammoniac is the product from the reaction of hydrochloric acid and ammonia.
Structure of Ammonium Chloride
The Structure of NH4Cl or Ammonium Chloride is represented as follows.
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Properties of Ammonium Chloride
Let us look at the properties of Ammonium Chloride
Production of Ammonium Chloride
Ammonium Chloride is the product of the Solvay process. Apart from the Ammonium chloride, the sodium carbonate is another product of the Solvay process.
\[ CO_{2} + 2 NH_{3} + 2NaCl + H_{2}O \rightarrow 2NH_{4}Cl + Na_{2}CO_{3} \]
Usually, this method is used to minimise the release of ammonia from some industrial work. Commercially, ammonium chloride is prepared from the combination of ammonia (NH3) with either hydrogen chloride (gas) or hydrochloric acid.
\[ NH_{3} + HCl \rightarrow NH_{4}Cl \]
Reactions with Ammonium Chloride
To release ammonia gas, ammonium chloride reacts with the strong base.
\[ NH_{4}Cl + NaOH \rightarrow NH_{3} + NaCl + H_{2}O \]
Ammonium chloride reacts with the alkali metal carbonates at the increased temperature which gives the ammonia and alkali metal chloride.
\[ 2NH_{4}Cl + Na_{2}CO_{3} \rightarrow 2NaCl + CO_{2} + H_{2}O + 2NH_{3} \]
When heated, Ammonium chloride shows a neutral nature, but in reality, ammonium chloride decomposes into ammonia, and hydrogen chloride gas on the heat.
\[ NH_{4}Cl \rightarrow NH_{3} + HCl \]
The solution of ammonium chloride in water has a pH in the range of 4.6 to 6.0.
History of Ammonium Chloride
The ancient mention of the ammonium chloride was in 554 A.D. in China. There were two sources of ammonium chloride at the time. The first source was the vents of underground coal fires in Central Asia, specifically, in the Tian Shan Mountains. The second source of ammonium chloride was the fumaroles of the volcano Mount Taftan in southeastern Iran. The Ammonium chloride word is derived from the Iranian phrase anosh adur which means immortal fire. Ammonium chloride was transported at that time along the Silk Road eastwards to China and westwards to the Muslim lands and Europe. The Arabs of Egypt discovered ammonium chloride in 800 A.D. from the burning camel dung, and that source became an alternative source in Central Asia.
Application of Ammonium Chloride
Fertilisers
The main application of ammonium chloride is as a source of nitrogen in fertilisers. In Asia, in the crops of rice and wheat, Ammonium chloride is used as a fertiliser.
Metalwork
In preparing metals which are to be tin coated, galvanised or soldered, Ammonium chloride is used as a flux. Ammonium chloride works as a flux which cleans the surface of workpieces. Ammonium chloride is used as a flux in solder as well.
Medicine
Ammonium chloride is used in the field of medicine too. Ammonium chloride is used in cough medicines. Ammonium salts are useful to reduce nausea and vomiting. In the treatment of severe metabolic alkalosis, Ammonium chloride is used as a systemic acidifying agent. Ammonium chloride is useful in the oral acid loading test to diagnose distal renal tubular acidosis too.
Food
Ammonium chloride is used as a yeast nutrient in breadmaking and as an acidifier. In dark sweets called Salmiak, Ammonium chloride is used to spice up. Salmiak is a dark sweet which is popular in Nordic and other nearby countries. In baked cookies, ammonium chloride is used to bring the crisp texture. Ammonium chloride is called the Noshader in Iran, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan, and some Arab countries. In samosas and jalebi, ammonium chloride is used to improve the crispness.
In the Laboratory
To produce low temperatures in cooling baths, Ammonium chloride is used. As a buffer solution, ammonium chloride is used with ammonia. In palaeontology, the vapour of ammonium chloride is cemented on fossils; this stuff forms a white layer which can be easily removed and it is quite harmless.
Flotation
With the help of ammonium chloride solution, Giant squid and some other large species of squid maintain the neutral buoyancy in seawater because the density of the solution of Ammonium chloride is less than the density of seawater. The solution of ammonium chloride tastes like Salmiakki, and because of this unusual taste, giant squids feel un-attracted towards the human.
Other Applications
To reduce the clay swelling problems, ammonium chloride is used for 5% in aqueous solution. Ammonium chloride is used as an electrolyte in Zinc-Carbon batteries. Ammonium chloride is used in hair shampoo, and cleaning products too. Ammonium chloride is used as glue to attach two plywood. For dyeing, tanning, textile printing, and cotton clustering, ammonium chloride is used in textile and leather industries. In Leclanché cells, Ammonium Chloride was used in aqueous solution as an electrolyte in the start of the 20th century. Ammonium chloride is used in Iron which is used for clothes.
FAQs on Ammonium Chloride NH4Cl Properties Preparation and Applications
1. What is ammonium chloride?
Ammonium chloride is an ionic compound with the chemical formula NH4Cl, composed of ammonium (NH4+) and chloride (Cl-) ions.
- It is a white crystalline solid at room temperature.
- It is highly soluble in water.
- It is commonly known as sal ammoniac.
- It forms from the reaction of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen chloride (HCl).
2. What is the formula and molar mass of ammonium chloride?
The formula of ammonium chloride is NH4Cl and its molar mass is approximately 53.49 g/mol.
- N = 14.01 g/mol
- H4 = 4 × 1.008 = 4.032 g/mol
- Cl = 35.45 g/mol
- Total = 14.01 + 4.032 + 35.45 ≈ 53.49 g/mol
3. Is ammonium chloride acidic, basic, or neutral?
Ammonium chloride is an acidic salt because it forms an acidic solution in water.
- It is formed from a strong acid (HCl) and a weak base (NH3).
- In water, NH4+ undergoes hydrolysis: NH4+(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ NH3(aq) + H3O+(aq).
- The production of H3O+ lowers the pH below 7.
4. How is ammonium chloride prepared in the laboratory?
Ammonium chloride is prepared by reacting ammonia with hydrochloric acid.
- Balanced equation: NH3(g) + HCl(g) → NH4Cl(s)
- This is an example of an acid–base reaction.
- White fumes of solid NH4Cl are formed when the gases mix.
5. What happens when ammonium chloride is heated?
When heated, ammonium chloride undergoes thermal decomposition to form ammonia and hydrogen chloride gases.
- Balanced equation: NH4Cl(s) ⇌ NH3(g) + HCl(g)
- The process is reversible upon cooling.
- It appears to sublime, but actually decomposes and recombines.
6. How does ammonium chloride react with sodium hydroxide?
Ammonium chloride reacts with sodium hydroxide to produce ammonia gas, water, and sodium chloride.
- Balanced equation: NH4Cl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NH3(g) + H2O(l) + NaCl(aq)
- This is an example of an acid–base reaction.
- The reaction is used as a laboratory test for ammonium ions.
7. What are the uses of ammonium chloride?
Ammonium chloride is used in fertilizers, dry cells, and laboratory chemistry.
- As a nitrogen fertilizer in agriculture.
- As an electrolyte in dry cell batteries.
- In metalwork as a flux for soldering.
- In laboratory experiments involving buffer solutions and salt hydrolysis.
8. Why does ammonium chloride dissolve easily in water?
Ammonium chloride dissolves easily in water because it is an ionic compound that dissociates into hydrated ions.
- Dissociation: NH4Cl(s) → NH4+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
- Water molecules stabilize the ions through ion–dipole interactions.
- The dissolution process is slightly endothermic.
9. What type of bond is present in ammonium chloride?
Ammonium chloride contains both ionic and covalent bonds.
- The bond between NH4+ and Cl- is ionic.
- The N–H bonds within NH4+ are covalent bonds.
- One N–H bond originates as a coordinate (dative) bond in NH4+.
10. What is the difference between ammonium chloride and sodium chloride?
The main difference is that ammonium chloride is an acidic salt, while sodium chloride is a neutral salt.
- NH4Cl is formed from a strong acid (HCl) and weak base (NH3).
- NaCl is formed from a strong acid (HCl) and strong base (NaOH).
- NH4Cl solution has pH < 7, whereas NaCl solution is approximately pH 7.
