Ammonia [Chemical formula, Physical, Chemical Properties and Reactions]

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: February 3, 2024

Chemical formula of ammonia is NH3.

Physical Properties of Ammonia:

Properties Details
Appearance Colorless gas with a pungent odor
Boiling point -33.34°C
Chemical formula NH₃
Density 0.73 g/cm³
Flammability Non-flammable, but supports combustion
Heat of vaporization 23.35 kJ/mol
Melting point -77.73°C
Molecular weight 17.03 g/mol
Refractive index 1.334
Solubility Highly soluble in water
Vapor pressure 8.68 atm at 20°C

Chemical Properties of Ammonia:

Properties Details
Acid-base reactions Reacts with acids to form salts, participates in acid-base reactions
Basicity Acts as a weak base, accepts protons to form ammonium ions
Catalytic activity Acts as a catalyst in various reactions
Combustibility Supports combustion when mixed with an oxidizing agent
Dissociation Partially dissociates in water to form ammonium and hydroxide ions
Formation of amines Undergoes reactions to form amines
Formation of ammonium Reacts with acids or hydrogen ions to form ammonium ions
Nitriding reactions Reacts with metals to form metal nitrides
Reactivity Reacts with acids to form ammonium salts
Reducing agent Reduces metal oxides to form metal nitrides or ammoniates

Reaction of ammonia

With Alkali Metal

Alkali Metal Reaction with Ammonia
Lithium Li + NH3 → LiNH2 + H2
Sodium 2Na + 2NH3 → 2NaNH2 + H2
Potassium 2K + 2NH3 → 2KNH2 + H2
Rubidium 2Rb + 2NH3 → 2RbNH2 + H2
Cesium 2Cs + 2NH3 → 2CsNH2 + H2

With Alkaline Earth Metal

Alkaline Earth Metal Reaction with Ammonia
Beryllium Be + 2NH3 → Be(NH2)2 + H2
Magnesium Mg + 2NH3 → Mg(NH2)2 + H2
Calcium Ca + 2NH3 → Ca(NH2)2 + H2
Strontium Sr + 2NH3 → Sr(NH2)2 + H2
Barium Ba + 2NH3 → Ba(NH2)2 + H2

With Transition Metal

Transition Metal Reaction with Ammonia
Scandium Sc + 2NH3 → Sc(NH2)2 + H2
Titanium Ti + 2NH3 → Ti(NH2)2 + H2
Vanadium V + 3NH3 → VN3H9
Chromium Cr + 6NH3 → Cr(NH3)6
Manganese Mn + 4NH3 → Mn(NH3)4
Iron Fe + 4NH3 → Fe(NH3)4
Cobalt Co + 6NH3 → Co(NH3)6
Nickel Ni + 4NH3 → Ni(NH3)4
Copper Cu + 4NH3 → [Cu(NH3)4]2+ + 2e-
Zinc Zn + 2NH3 → Zn(NH2)2 + H2

 With Post-Transition Metal

Post-Transition Metal Reaction with Ammonia
Aluminum 2Al + 6NH3 → 2Al(NH2)3 + 3H2
Gallium Ga + 2NH3 → Ga(NH2)2 + H2
Indium In + 4NH3 → In(NH2)4 + 2H2
Tin Sn + 4NH3 → Sn(NH2)4 + 2H2
Lead Pb + 4NH3 → Pb(NH2)4 + 2H2
Antimony Sb + 3NH3 → Sb(NH2)3 + 3H2
Bismuth Bi + 3NH3 → Bi(NH2)3 + 3H2

With Metalloid

 

Metalloid Reaction with Ammonia
Boron B + 3NH3 → BN + 3H2
Silicon Si + 4NH3 → Si(NH2)4 + 2H2
Germanium Ge + 4NH3 → Ge(NH2)4 + 2H2

 

 With Noble Gas

Noble Gas Reaction with Ammonia
Helium No reaction
Neon No reaction
Argon No reaction
Krypton No reaction
Xenon Xe + 2NH3 → Xe(NH3)2
Radon Rn + 2NH3 → Rn(NH3)2

 With Nonmetal

Nonmetal Reaction with Ammonia
Hydrogen 3H2 + N2 → 2NH3
Oxygen 4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + 6H2O
Sulfur S + 2NH3 → H2S + NS
Chlorine N2 + 3Cl2 + 6NH3 → 6NH4Cl
Bromine N2 + 3Br2 + 6NH3 → 6NH4Br

 

 With Lanthanide

Lanthanide Reaction with Ammonia
Cerium 2Ce + 3NH3 → 2Ce(NH2)3 + H2
Praseodymium 2Pr + 3NH3 → 2Pr(NH2)3 + H2
Neodymium 2Nd + 3NH3 → 2Nd(NH2)3 + H2
Samarium 2Sm + 3NH3 → 2Sm(NH2)3 + H2
Europium Eu + 2NH3 → Eu(NH2)2 + H2
Gadolinium 2Gd + 3NH3 → 2Gd(NH2)3 + H2

 With Actinide

Actinide Reaction with Ammonia
Uranium 2U + 3NH3 → 2U(NH2)3 + H2
Plutonium 2Pu + 3NH3 → 2Pu(NH2)3 + H2
Americium 2Am + 3NH3 → 2Am(NH2)3 + H2
Curium 2Cm + 3NH3 → 2Cm(NH2)3 + H2
Berkelium Bk + 2NH3 → Bk(NH2)2 + H2
Californium Cf + 2NH3 → Cf(NH2)2 + H2

 

 

 

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