Page 110 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

AMMONIA

Interesting Facts

• Ammonia’s name comes • The Haber-Bosch
from an ancient Egyptian process was developed
practice conducted at largely because of
the temple of the sun Germany’s need for
god Amon (or Ammon) explosives in World War I.
near Karnak. Camel Ammonia gas is
dung burned at the converted to nitric acid,
temple gave off a strong which, in turn, is used in
odor (ammonia) and left making sodium and
behind a white potassium nitrate, major
crystalline substance components of explosives.
on the ground. The Fritz Haber believed that it
white substance was was his patriotic duty to
given the name of contribute to the German
sal ammoniac, or salt wareffortin whatever way
of Amon, and the he could, which led to his
gas itself later development of a new
became known as method for making
ammonia. ammonia.

States. Small amounts of ammonia are also produced during
the process by which soft coal is converted to coke.
Ammonia is a natural product of metabolism in all ani-
mals. When proteins break down, the nitrogen they contain
is converted, in part, to ammonia. The ammonia is then
converted to urea, which is excreted in the urine.

COMMON USES AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS

Ammonia is used in a variety of forms as a fertilizer. It
can be liquified or dissolved in water and sprayed on land, or it
can be converted into any one of a number of compounds, such
as ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, or ammonium
sulfate. In these forms, it is spread as dry granules on the land.
Urea, made from ammonia and carbon dioxide, is also used as
a feed supplement for cattle. Plants and animals use the

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 59