Question

The equivalent weight of Ammonia as a base is:

Answer 1

Hint: In order to answer this question, we should be knowing the formulas that are used to determine the base of Ammonia. Not only this, but we should be clear with the equation as well.
Formulas used: Equivalent mass is equal to $\dfrac{\text{molecular mass}}{\text{acidity}}$ in case of a base. In case of an acid, the equivalent mass is equal to $\dfrac{\text{molecular mass}}{\text{basicity}}$. In case of salts, the equivalent mass is equal to $\dfrac{\text{molecular mass}}{\text{Valency}}$.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Ammonia is a monoacidic base. Its molecular formula is ${\text{N}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}}$.
The reason why Ammonia is a monoacidic base is given in the following steps:
\[\begin{align}
  & \text{ N}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}\;\;\;\;\;\text{ + }\;\;\;\;\;{{\text{H}}^{\text{+}}}\text{ }\;\;\;\;\;\xrightarrow\;\;\;\;\;{{}}\text{ N}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}^{\text{+}} \\
 & \text{ammonia proton ammonium ion} \\
\end{align}\]
Since Ammonia reacts with a proton, acidity of Ammonia is 1.
Now, we know the acidity of Ammonia, this denotes that the valency factor of Ammonia is 8.
\[{{\text{n}}_{\text{f}}}\text{=1}\]
This is because the valency factor represents the number of electrons exchanged. Ammonia exchanges 1 electron, being monoacidic in nature.
Hence, Equivalent mass of ${\text{N}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}}$ ,
\[\left( {{\text{W}}_{\text{eq}}} \right)\text{ = }\dfrac{\text{M}}{{{\text{n}}_{\text{f}}}}\]
\[\text{=}\dfrac{\text{17}}{\text{1}}\]
\[\text{=17 g/eq}\]
Hence, the equivalent mass of ammonia is 17g/eq or 17kg/mol.

Note: About ammonia we should be knowing that ammonia is weak because its nitrogen atom has an electron pair that readily accepts a proton. Also, when dissolved in water, Ammonia acquires hydrogen ions from water to produce hydroxide and ammonium ions. It is the production of these hydroxide ions that imparts ammonia its characteristic basicity.
We should also know that the Haber process is a reversible exothermic equilibrium reaction. Any exothermic reaction releases energy to its surrounding. The production of each molecule of ammonia during the above process releases 46KJ of heat energy.