 
Ammonia (NH3) is a colourless gas with a distinctly pungent smell, and each molecule is composed of one nitrogen and 3 hydrogen atoms. It is a simple inorganic compound that is a building block of a vast array of chemicals, ranging from amino acids, nucleotides, fertilizers and cleaning agents.Most people associate the pungent smell of ammonia with cleaners or smelling salts. However, the use of ammonia in these two products represents only a small fraction of the total global ammonia production. Ammonia is necessary in the manufacturing of fertilizers for the agriculture industry, and is one of the largest-volume synthetic chemicals produced in the world. In pure form, it is known as anhydrous ammonia. Ammonia binds airborne nitrogen and makes this important crop nutrient available for nitrogen fertilizer production. Ammonia is produced in the human body, and is commonly found in nature. It is essential in the body as a building block for making proteins and other complex molecules. In nature, ammonia occurs in soil from bacterial processes. It is also produced when plants, animals and animal wastes decay. Ammonia is a highly irritating gas with a suffocating odour. It dissolves easily in water to form ammonium hydroxide solution, which can cause irritation and burns. Ammonia gas is easily compressed, and forms a clear, colourless liquid under pressure. It is usually shipped as a compressed liquid in steel cylinders. Ammonia is not highly flammable. 
About 80% of the ammonia produced by industry in North America is used in agriculture as fertilizer. Ammonia is also used as a refrigerant gas, to purify water supplies, and in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, fabrics, pesticides, dyes and other chemicals. Ammonia is also found in many household and industrial-strength cleaning solutions; cleaning solutions for industrial use contain higher concentrations of ammonia and can quickly cause irritation and burns. Ammonia gas is lighter than air and will rise, so that generally it does not settle in low-lying areas. However, in the presence of moisture, ammonia can form vapours that are heavier than air, which can spread along the ground or other low-lying areas. When ammonia enters the body as a result of breathing, swallowing or skin contact, it reacts with water to produce ammonium hydroxide. This chemical is very corrosive and damages cells in the body on contact. Ammonia itself is corrosive. Exposure to high concentrations in air causes immediate burning of the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract and can result in blindness, lung damage or death. Inhalation of lower concentrations can cause coughing, and nose and throat irritation. Swallowing ammonia can cause burns to the mouth, throat and stomach. |