Table of Contents
Introduction to Ammonium Hydroxide Formula
Ammonium hydroxide, also known as ammonia water or aqueous ammonia, is a solution of ammonia gas (NH3) dissolved in water. It is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor. Ammonium hydroxide is a common and versatile chemical compound used in various industrial, commercial, and household applications.
It is produced by dissolving ammonia gas in water, and the concentration of ammonium hydroxide can vary depending on the desired application. The solution is alkaline in nature, meaning it has a high pH value. Ammonium hydroxide readily releases ammonia gas when heated or exposed to air.
It’s important to handle ammonium hydroxide with caution and follow proper safety guidelines as it is a corrosive substance. Protective equipment and adequate ventilation should be used when working with or around ammonium hydroxide to ensure safety. It can also cause irritation or burns when in contact with the skin or eyes.
Uses of Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammonium hydroxide, also known as ammonia water, is a solution of ammonia in water. It has several uses in various industries and applications. Here are some common uses of ammonium hydroxide:
- Cleaning and Household Products: Ammonium hydroxide is commonly used in cleaning products such as window cleaners, floor cleaners, and bathroom cleaners. It helps to remove dirt, grime, and stains effectively.
- pH Adjustment: Ammonium hydroxide is used as a pH adjuster in various industries, including water treatment, agriculture, and manufacturing. It can be used to increase the alkalinity of acidic solutions.
- Fertilizer Production: Ammonium hydroxide is a source of ammonia, which is an essential nutrient for plants. It is used in the production of fertilizers to provide nitrogen to the soil and promote plant growth.
- Metal Cleaning and Etching: Ammonium hydroxide is used in metal cleaning and etching processes. It can help remove oxide layers, oils, and other contaminants from metal surfaces.
- Textile Industry: Ammonium hydroxide is used in the textile industry for dyeing and printing fabrics. It helps to fix dyes to the fabric and improve color fastness.
- Analytical Chemistry: Ammonium hydroxide is used in laboratory settings for various analytical techniques. It can be used as a reagent or solvent in chemical reactions and as a pH buffer in analytical procedures.
Structural Formula of Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammonium hydroxide, with the chemical formula NH4OH, is a compound formed by combining ammonia (NH3) and water (H2O). It is also known as aqueous ammonia or ammonia solution. In the formula, NH4 represents the ammonium ion, which consists of one nitrogen atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. The hydroxide ion (OH-) is formed by the dissociation of water. When ammonia is dissolved in water, it forms ammonium hydroxide due to the reaction between ammonia and water molecules.
Physical Properties of Ammonium Hydroxide Formula
- Appearance: Ammonium hydroxide is a clear and transparent liquid. It is soluble in water, meaning it readily dissolves in water to form a homogeneous solution.
- Odour: It has a distinctive, strong, and pungent odor, similar to that of ammonia.
- Density: The density of ammonium hydroxide is around 0.9 g/cm³, which means it is slightly less dense than water.
- Boiling Point: Ammonium hydroxide has a relatively low boiling point of approximately 38oC (100oF). This low boiling point allows it to evaporate easily.
- pH: Ammonium hydroxide is a weak base and has a pH of around 11-12 when it is in an aqueous solution. This pH indicates its basic nature.
- Volatility: Ammonium hydroxide is a volatile substance, meaning it can evaporate into the air relatively easily at room temperature. This contributes to its strong odour.
Chemical Properties of Ammonium Hydroxide Formula
- Ionization: Ammonium hydroxide readily ionizes in water to release ammonium ions (NH4+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). The dissociation of ammonium hydroxide is reversible, and the concentration of ammonium and hydroxide ions in solution depends on the pH and temperature.
- Acid-Base Properties: Ammonium hydroxide is a weak base. It can accept protons (H+) from other substances and act as a base in acid-base reactions. The basic nature of ammonium hydroxide is due to the presence of hydroxide ions in the solution.
- Reactivity with Acids: Ammonium hydroxide can react with acids to form ammonium salts. In these reactions, the hydroxide ion from ammonium hydroxide reacts with the hydrogen ion from the acid, forming water. For example, ammonium hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to form ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and water (H2O). 2NH4OH+H2SO4 → (NH4)2SO4+2H2O
- Complex Formation: Ammonium hydroxide can form complexes with various metal ions. These complexes are formed through coordination bonding, where the metal ion acts as a Lewis acid and the hydroxide ion from ammonium hydroxide acts as a Lewis base. The resulting complex compounds often have different chemical and physical properties compared to the individual components.
- Decomposition: Ammonium hydroxide is unstable at high temperatures and can decompose to release ammonia gas (NH3) and water vapor (H2O). This decomposition reaction occurs when ammonium hydroxide is heated or exposed to elevated temperatures. NH4OH → NH3 + H2O
Solved Examples on Ammonium Hydroxide Formula
Example 1: Calculate the molarity of ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) in a solution prepared by dissolving 25 grams of NH4OH in enough water to make 500 mL of solution.
Solution:
First, calculate the number of moles of NH4OH:
Molar mass of NH4OH = 14.01 g/mol (N) + 1.01 g/mol (H) + 16.00 g/mol (O) + 1.01 g/mol (H)
= 35.03 g/mol
Number of moles = mass / molar mass = 25 g / 35.03 g/mol ≈ 0.713 mol
Next, convert the volume of the solution to liters:
500 mL = 500 mL * (1 L / 1000 mL)
= 0.5 L
Finally, calculate the molarity:
Molarity = moles / volume
= 0.713 mol / 0.5 L
= 1.426 M
Therefore, the molarity of the ammonium hydroxide solution is 1.426 M.
Example 2: A 100 mL solution of ammonium hydroxide with a molarity of 0.5 M is diluted with water to a final volume of 500 mL. What is the new molarity of the diluted solution?
Solution:
The initial solution has a volume of 100 mL and a molarity of 0.5 M. To find the new molarity after dilution, we need to consider the dilution factor.
Dilution factor = final volume / initial volume
= 500 mL / 100 mL = 5
The moles of ammonium hydroxide remain the same before and after dilution, so the new moles of ammonium hydroxide in the diluted solution are the same as the initial moles.
New volume = initial volume * dilution factor
= 100 mL * 5 = 500 mL
New molarity = moles / new volume = (initial moles) / (new volume)
= (0.5 M) / (500 mL / 1000 mL/L) = 0.1 M
Therefore, the new molarity of the diluted solution is 0.1 M.
Frequently Asked Questions on Ammonium Hydroxide Formula
How do you write ammonium hydroxide?
Ammonium hydroxide is represented chemically as NH4OH. This formula shows that it consists of one nitrogen atom (N), four hydrogen atoms (H), and one oxygen atom (O), all bonded together.
What is the real name for ammonium hydroxide?
The real name for ammonium hydroxide is aqueous ammonia. This term indicates that it is ammonia (NH3) dissolved in water (H2O), creating a solution of NH4OH.
What is ammonium hydroxide used for?
Ammonium hydroxide serves various purposes in industry and households. It is commonly employed as a cleaning agent for its ability to break down and remove dirt, grease, and stains. Additionally, it is used in industrial processes such as chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and as a pH regulator.
Is NH4OH a strong base?
NH4OH is considered a weak base. This means that it does not completely dissociate into hydroxide ions (OH-) in water, unlike strong bases such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH). As a weak base, it has limited ability to accept and donate hydroxide ions.
What is the formula for ammonium hydroxide?
The formula for ammonium hydroxide is NH4OH. This formula accurately represents the chemical composition of the substance, showing the presence of ammonium (NH4+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions in the solution.
What is called NH4OH?
NH4OH is commonly referred to as ammonium hydroxide. It is a chemical compound consisting of ammonium ions (NH4+) and hydroxide ions (OH-) dissolved in water (H2O).
Is ammonium hydroxide used as fertilizer?
Ammonium hydroxide is not typically used as a fertilizer itself. Instead, it is primarily used in industrial and household applications such as cleaning agents and pH regulation. Ammonium compounds, including ammonium hydroxide, can be components of fertilizers, but they are not the primary active ingredients.
What is ammonium hydroxide used for in the laboratory?
In laboratory settings, ammonium hydroxide has various applications. It is often used as a reagent or solution in chemical experiments and analyses. It can be employed for tasks such as adjusting pH levels in reactions, precipitating certain compounds, and as a component in various chemical tests and procedures.
