what is ammonia used for

what is ammonia used for

1 year ago 37
Nature

Ammonia is a chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. It is one of the most commonly produced industrial chemicals in the United States and is used in industry, commerce, and also exists naturally in humans and the environment. Here are some of the uses of ammonia:

  • Fertilizer: About 80% of the ammonia produced by industry is used in agriculture as fertilizer. Ammonia is a basic building block for ammonium nitrate fertilizer, which releases nitrogen, an essential nutrient for growing plants, including farm crops and lawns.

  • Refrigerant: Ammonia is used as a refrigerant gas and in air-conditioning equipment. It is a useful refrigerant because of its vaporization properties and high energy efficiency.

  • Cleaning agent: Ammonia is found in many household and industrial-strength cleaning solutions. It is used as a general-purpose cleaner for many surfaces, including glass, porcelain, and stainless steel. It is also frequently used for cleaning ovens and for soaking items to loosen baked-on grime.

  • Manufacturing: Ammonia is used in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, textiles, pesticides, dyes, and other chemicals. It is also a building block for the synthesis of many pharmaceutical products.

  • Water purification: Ammonia can be used to purify water supplies. It is also part of the nitrogen cycle in the environment and is produced in soil from bacterial processes.

  • Fuel: Ammonia has been used as fuel and is a proposed alternative to fossil fuels and hydrogen in the future. It is much more energy-efficient than hydrogen as a fuel and could be produced, stored, and delivered at a much lower cost than hydrogen.

  • Other uses: Ammonia is used in the waste and wastewater treatment, cold storage, rubber, pulp and paper, and food and beverage industries as a stabilizer, neutralizer, and a source of nitrogen. It is also used as smelling salts by weightlifters to give them a surge of adrenaline.

In conclusion, ammonia has a wide range of uses, including as a fertilizer, refrigerant, cleaning agent, and in the manufacturing of various products. It is also used in water purification, fuel, and other industries.

Read Entire Article