AMMONIUM  HYDROXIDE

Ammonium Hydroxide (NH₄OH) is an inorganic chemical compound that is the solution of ammonium. It has its other name as aqueous ammonia, solution of ammonia gas in water, or aqua ammonia, and has a role of food acidity regulator. It is also known as Ammoniac Liquor. In all its properties, it is mixable with water.

Uses of Ammonium Hydroxide

• It is used as a salt or as a solution in the manufacturing process of fertilizers.
• It is used as a base chemical in the preparation of nitric acid and many other organic/inorganic compounds.
• It serves as a cleaning agent.
• It is used in the manufacturing of some disinfectants such as chloramine.
• One can seal the wood containing tannic acid, in a container by an ammonium hydroxide solution, thus used in furniture darkening.
• It works as acidity regular.
• It is also used in textile and rubber manufacturing.
• It is used in detergents, fireproofing wood, and lubricants.

Preparation

Ammonium hydroxide can be produced by saturating water with gaseous ammonia or by the reaction of hydrogen and nitrogen on the metallic iron followed by the addition of resulting ammonia to water.

Chemical Properties

It is commonly known as ammonia solution, exhibits several important chemical properties due to its composition. Firstly, it is a weak base, meaning it can accept protons from acids to form ammonium salts. This property makes it useful in various applications like household cleaners and fertilizers. Secondly, it can undergo neutralization reactions with acids, forming water and the corresponding ammonium salt. Additionally, ammonium hydroxide can participate in complexation reactions, where it coordinates with metal ions to form complex species, often utilized in analytical chemistry for metal ion detection and separation. Moreover, it has the ability to act as a ligand, forming coordination complexes with transition metals. This versatility makes ammonium hydroxide a valuable reagent in numerous industrial processes and laboratory experiments, showcasing its significance in various fields ranging from agriculture to chemical manufacturing