Ammonium hydroxide

Description

Ammonium hydroxide is a colorless, liquid solution with a characteristic and pungent odor. It is ammonia combined with water. Ammonia (NH3) is a compound consisting of nitrogen and hydrogen. Both ammonia and ammonium hydroxide are very common compounds, found naturally in the environment (in air, water, and soil) and in all plants and animals, including humans. Ammonia is a source of nitrogen, an essential element for plants and animals. Ammonia is also produced by the human body – by our organs and tissues and by beneficial bacteria living in our intestines.
Ammonia plays an important role in protein synthesis in the human body. In brief summary, all living things need proteins, which are comprised of some 20 different amino acids. While plants and microorganisms can synthesize most amino acids from the nitrogen in the atmosphere, animals cannot. For humans, some amino acids cannot be synthesized at all and must be consumed as intact amino acids. Other amino acids, however, can be synthesized by microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract with the help of ammonia ions. Thus, ammonia is a key player in the nitrogen cycle and in protein synthesis. Ammonia also helps maintain the body's pH balance.

Description

Ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) solutions are basic, with a 1M NH3 solution having a pH of 11.63. Saturated NH4OH solutions contain 35% ammonia (by mass), however, concentrated solutions that are used in organic chemistry labs are typically 28-30% ammonia (by mass). The concentration of ammonia decreases slightly every time a bottle is opened due to evaporation of ammonia, especially if the bottle was removed from a refrigerator and allowed to warm to room temperature.

The Uses of Ammonium hydroxide

Ammonium hydroxide is used as a cleaning agent and sanitizer in many household and industrial cleaners. Ammonium hydroxide is also used in the manufacture of products such as fertilizer, plastic, rayon and rubber. Aqueous ammonia is corrosive to aluminum alloys, copper, copper alloys, and galvanized surfaces. Aqueous ammonia is an excellent acid neutralizer.

The Uses of Ammonium hydroxide

To a solution of the SM (50.0 g, 218.0 mmol) in dry DCM (400 mL) at 0 C was added TEA (44.1 g, 437 mmol), followed by isobutyl chloroformate (596.0 g, 437.0 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 1 h, after which time it was concentrated in vacuo. The resulting material was cooled to 0 C and treated with NH4OH. The resulting solids were filtered, washed with H2O, and dried to provide the product as a white solid. [40.0 g, 80%]

What are the applications of Application

Ammonium hydroxide solution is a complexant and base for traditional qualitative inorganic analysis