Question

How do we get Ammonia?

Answer 1

1. ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ is an alkaline gas that is highly reactive and soluble.
2. It originates from both natural and anthropogenic causes in agriculture as manures, slurries and the application of fertilizer, as the primary cause. Ammonia results from urea degradation and volatilization.
3. Around 80 per cent of the ammonia provided by industry is used as fertilizer in agriculture.
4. Ammonia is produced at small scale by reacting the ammonium salts with caustic soda. The reaction is given as:
   $2{\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{Cl}+\mathrm{Ca}{\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)}_2\to 2{\mathrm{NH}}_3+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+{\mathrm{CaCl}}_2$
   For large scale production, we use the Haber's process. The reaction is given as:
   ${\mathrm{N}}_2+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\to 2{\mathrm{NH}}_3$
5. Ammonia is used in the manufacturing of fabrics, explosives, textiles, pesticides, dyes and other substances, as a refrigerant gas for the purification of water sources.