Question

Liquid ammonia is used as refrigerant in ice plants. Give reasons.

Answer 1

Hint: Liquid ammonia is the heavy liquid which has high vapor pressure at ordinary temperatures. The liquid ammonia when brought into the contact with the skin, causes freezing. It is used as solvent and as a source of gaseous ammonia. It takes a lot of energy from the surroundings to vaporize.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
Liquid ammonia is the heavy liquid which has high vapor pressure at ordinary temperatures. The liquid ammonia when brought into the contact with the skin, causes freezing which is obtained by compressing anhydrous gaseous ammonia. It is used as refrigeration and as solvent and is also the good source of gaseous ammonia.
Liquid ammonia is used as refrigerant in ice plants as it takes the lot of energy from the surroundings to vaporize. This heat is taken from the bodies in the environment which are consequently cooled down.

Additional Information:
Ammonia is the compound of hydrogen and nitrogen which have a molecular formula, $N{H_3}$. It is the colorless gas with the pungent smell. Ammonia directly or indirectly helps in the manufacturing of many other pharmaceutical products and can also be used in many commercial cleaning products.
Ammonia boils at the temperature of $ - {33.34^ \circ }C$ or $ - {28.012^ \circ }F$ and at the pressure of 1 atmosphere, so the liquid must be stored under pressure or at low temperature.

Note: The importance of ammonia as the refrigerant increased with the discovery of that vented chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons, which are extremely potent and stable greenhouse gases.