Question

Smelling salts have ammonium carbonate as their chief constituent. When sniffed, the salts react with the basic lining of the nostrils to release ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ gas, which irritates membranes, thereby causing the person to inhale deeply resulting in improved alertness.

1. Write the balanced equation for ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ evolution inside the nostrils.
2. Unconscious boxer can be brought back to their senses using smelling salts. Do you agree?

Answer 1

a.

Ammonium carbonate:

• Ammonium carbonate is a white-colored salt, which brings a person out of unconsciousness.
• It has a very strong smell of ammonia (${\mathrm{NH}}_3$).
• It rapidly decomposes to form Ammonia gas, Cabon dioxide gas, and water inside the nostrils.
• The reaction would be:

$\underset{(\mathrm{Ammoinum}\mathrm{carbonate})}{\underbrace{{\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4\right)}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}}\to \underset{\left(\mathrm{Ammonia}\right)}{\underbrace{2{\mathrm{NH}}_3\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\uparrow }}+\underset{(\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide})}{\underbrace{{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\uparrow }}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{\underbrace{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}}$

b.

• Yes, Ammonium carbonate when decomposes gives ammonia gas which has a very pungent smell, and with the help of which unconscious boxer could be brought back to his sense using this salt.
• Many people believe that it has placebo effect, and it boost the performance of the boxers too.