494. Ammonia Water

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1336-21-6
Ammonium hydroxide ((NH4)(OH)); ammonium hydroxide; aqua ammonia; spirit of hartshorn.
H5NO; mol wt 35.05.
H 14.38%, N 39.96%, O 45.65%.
NH4OH.

Description and references

A soln of 28-29% NH3 in water.

Properties

Colorless liquid; intense, pungent, suffocating odor; acrid taste; strong alkaline reaction. d2525 ≈0.90, 26°Bé. Dissolves copper, zinc. Fumes are formed when brought near volatile acids. Keep cool in strong glass, plastic or rubber-stoppered bottles not completely filled. Reaction with H2SO4 or other strong mineral acids is exothermic; mixture becomes boiling hot.

Derivative

Ammonia Water—10%.

Properties

Colorless liquid. Very pungent odor. d2525 0.957. Irritating to skin and mucous membranes.

Use

Detergent, removing stains, bleaching, calico printing, extracting plant colors (cochineal, archil, etc.) and alkaloids; manuf ammonium salts and aniline dyes. Buffers; pH adjustment; trace metal analysis. Wide variety of other uses.

Therapeutic Category

10% Solution as reflex respiratory stimulant.