[Chemistry Class Notes] on Ammonium Chloride Pdf for Exam

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.

Properties of Ammonium Chloride

Let us look at the properties of Ammonium Chloride

Property

Value

Chemical Formula

NH4CI

Molar Mass

53.49 g.mol-1

Color

Odourless

Density

1.519 g/cm3

Melting Point

338 in °C, 640 in °F, and 611 in K

Boiling Point 

520 in °C, 968 in °F, and 793 in K

Solubility

Liquid ammonia, hydrazine, acetone, and insoluble in (244 g/L at -15 °C, 294 g/L slightly soluble in diethyl ether, ethyl acetate at 0 °C, 383.0 g/L at 25 °C, g/L at 100 °C) 454.4 g/L at 40 °C, and 740.8 

Std. Enthalpy

—314.43 kJ/mol

Gibbs Free Energy

—202.97 kJ/mol

Refractive Index (nD)

1.642 at 20 °C 

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.

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