General Description
AMMONIUM CHLORIDE(12125-02-9) is a white crystalline solid. AMMONIUM CHLORIDE(12125-02-9) is soluble in water(37%). The primary hazard is the threat posed to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. AMMONIUM CHLORIDE(12125-02-9) is used to make other ammonium compounds, as a soldering flux, as a fertilizer, and for many other uses.
Reactivity Profile
Acidic salts, such as AMMONIUM CHLORIDE, are generally soluble in water. The resulting solutions contain moderate concentrations of hydrogen ions and have pH's of less than 7.0. They react as acids to neutralize bases. These neutralizations generate heat, but less or far less than is generated by neutralization of inorganic acids, inorganic oxoacids, and carboxylic acid. They usually do not react as either oxidizing agents or reducing agents but such behavior is not impossible. Many of these compounds catalyze organic reactions.
Air & Water Reactions
Soluble in water. Slowly releases hydrogen chloride [USCG, 1999].
Hazard
Eye and upper respiratory tract irritant.
Health Hazard
Inhalation of fumes irritates respiratory passages. Ingestion irritates mouth and stomach. Fumes are irritating to eyes. Contact with skin may cause irritation.
Potential Exposure
Ammonium chloride is used as an
industrial chemical, pharmaceutical, and veterinary drug; to
make dry batteries; in galvanizing; as a soldering flux.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,
begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including
resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical
attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.
Shipping
UN3077 Environmentally hazardous substances,
solid, n.o.s., Hazard class: 9; Labels: 9-Miscellaneous
hazardous material, Technical Name Required.
Incompatibilities
Acids, alkalis, and silver salts.
Waste Disposal
Pretreatment involves addition
of sodium hydroxide to liberate ammonia and form the
soluble sodium salt. The liberated ammonia can be recovered
and sold. After dilution to the permitted provisional
limit, the sodium salt can be discharged into a stream or
sewer.
Physical properties
Colorless cubic crystals or white granular powder; saline taste; odorless; hygroscopic; does not melt but sublimes on heating at 340°C; vapor pressure 48.75 torr at 250°C and 251.2 torr at 300°C; density 1.5274 g/cm3 at 25°C; refractive index 1.642; readily dissolves in water, solubility: 229 g and 271 g/L solution at O°C and 20°C, respectively; solubility lowered by alkali metal chlorides and HCl; dissolution lowers the temperature of the solution; sparingly soluble in alcohols (6 g/L at 19°C) and soluble in liquid NH3; insoluble in acetone and ether.
Occurrence
Ammonium chloride occurs in nature in crevices near volcanoes. Also, it is found in smoke when burning dry camel or donkey dung as fuel. Important applications of this compound include the manufacture of dry cells for batteries; as a metal cleaner in soldering; as a flux in tin coating and galvanizing; in fertilizers; in pharmaceutical applications as a diuretic, or diaphoretic expectorant; and as an analytical standard in ammonia analysis. Also, it is used in freezing mixtures; washing powders; lustering cotton; in safety explosives and in dyeing and tanning.
Application
Ammonium chloride(12125-02-9) is also known as sal ammoniac. white crystals made by ammonia salts acting upon hydrochloric acid followed by crystallization. It was used as a halide in many processes, including the salted paper, albumen paper, albumen opaltype, and gelatin emulsion processes. ammonium chloride is also used as a thickener and as an additive in non-alcoholic toners. According to cosmetic formulators, the ammonium component provides the tingling or stinging sensation that some people associate with toners or aftershaves, and which, in regular toners, is usually provided by the alcohol content. Ammonium chloride’s use is the result of preference in formulation feel.
Definition
ChEBI: An inorganic chloride having ammonium as the counterion.
Definition
sal ammoniac: A white or colourless cubicsolid, NH4Cl; r.d. 1.53; sublimes at340°C. It is very soluble in water andslightly soluble in ethanol but insolublein ether. It may be prepared byfractional crystallization from a solutioncontaining ammonium sulphateand sodium chloride or ammoniumcarbonate and calcium chloride. Puresamples may be made directly by thegas-phase reaction of ammonia andhydrogen chloride. Because of itsease of preparation it can be manufacturedindustrially alongside anyplant that uses or produces ammonia.The compound is used in drycells, metal finishing, and in thepreparation of cotton for dyeing andprinting.
Preparation
Ammonium chloride is prepared commercially by reacting ammonia with hydrochloric acid. It may be prepared by fractional crystallization from a solution containing ammonium sulphate and sodium chloride or ammonium carbonate and calcium chloride. Because of it sease of preparation it can be manufacture dindustrially along side any plant that uses or produces ammonia. Ammonium chloride is used in dry cells, metal finishing, and in the preparation of cotton for dyeing and printing.
Production Methods
Ammonium chloride is prepared commercially by reacting ammonia
with hydrochloric acid.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Agricultural Uses
Ammonium chloride(12125-02-9), like all other ammonium salts, is
used as a fertilizer. It contains 24 to 26% nitrogen and is
available as white crystals or granules. A coarse form of
this fertilizer is preferred to the powdered form for direct
application. Its crystals are used in compound fertilizers.
Ammonium chloride is a good source of nitrogen for
cotton, rice, wheat, barley, maize, sorghum, sugar cane
and fiber crops. It is easy to handle. In some cases,
however, the material tends to become lumpy and
difficult to spread.
Ammonium chloride is used either directly for
fertilization or in a variety of compound fertilizers, such
as ammonium phosphate chloride or ammonium
potassium chloride or in combination with urea or
ammonium sulphate.
As a fertilizer, ammonium chloride has an advantage
in that it contains 26% nitrogen, which is higher than that
found in ammonium sulphate (20.5%). In terms of per
unit cost of nitrogen, ammonium chloride is relatively
cheaper than ammonium sulphate and has some
agronomic advantages for rice. Nitrification of
ammonium chloride is less rapid than that of urea or
ammonium sulphate. Therefore, nitrogen losses are
lower and yields, higher.
However, ammonium chloride is a highly acid
forming fertilizer and the amount of calcium carbonate
required to neutralize the acidity is more than the
fertilizer itself, Further, it has a lower nitrogen content
and a higher chloride content compared to urea and
ammonium nitrate, making it harmful to some plants.
Several methods are used to produce ammonium
chloride. The most important is the dual-salt process
(modified Solvay process) wherein ammonium chloride
and sodium carbonate are produced simultaneously using
common salt and anhydrous ammonia as the principal
starting materials. When ammonium chloride is mixed
with phosphatic and potassic fertilizers, a large amount of
soil calcium is lost as its conversion into soluble calcium
chloride causes it to leach out easily.
Like ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride can be
applied to wet land crops. In terms of the agronomic
suitability, it is generally rated as equal to other straight
nitrogenous fertilizers.
Ammonium chloride is, however, not ideal for
grapes, chilies, potatoes and tobacco as the added
chlorine affects the quality and storability of these crops.
Industrial uses of ammonium chloride are in
dry-battery manufacture and as a flux for soldering and
brazing.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Ammonium chloride is one of the three principal components of the nitrogen cycle. Ammonium chloride administration promotes creatinine and urea clearance andinduces metabolic acidosis in mice. Excess of ammonium chloride inhibits Kreb′s pathway in brain and depletes ATP in astrocytes. Ammonium chloride inhibits acidification in the endosome-lysosome system. Ammonium chloride is a hemolysing agent used for the lysis of erythrocytes.
Safety
Ammonium chloride is used in oral pharmaceutical formulations.
The pure form of ammonium chloride is toxic by SC, IV, and IM
routes, and moderately toxic by other routes. Potential symptoms of
overexposure to fumes are irritation of eyes, skin, respiratory
system: cough, dyspnea, and pulmonary sensitization. Ammonium
salts are an irritant to the gastric mucosa and may induce
nausea and vomiting.
LD50 (mouse, IP): 1.44 g/kg
LD50 (mouse, oral): 1.3 g/kg
LD50 (rat, IM): 0.03 g/kg
LD50 (rat, oral): 1.65 g/kg
Veterinary Drugs and Treatments
The veterinary indications for ammonium chloride are as a urinary
acidifying agent to help prevent and dissolve certain types of uroliths
(e.g., struvite), to enhance renal excretion of some types of toxins
(e.g., strontium, strychnine) or drugs (e.g., quinidine), or to enhance
the efficacy of certain
antimicrobials (e.g., chlortetracycline, methenamine
mandelate, nitrofurantoin, oxytetracycline, penicillin G or
tetracycline) when treating urinary tract infections. Ammonium
chloride has also been used intravenously for the rapid correction
of metabolic alkalosis.
Because of changes in feline diets to restrict struvite and as struvite
therapeutic diets (e.g., s/d) cause aciduria, ammonium chloride
is not commonly recommended for struvite uroliths in cats.
storage
Ammonium chloride is chemically stable. It decomposes completely
at 3388℃ to form ammonia and hydrochloric acid. Store in airtight
containers in a cool, dry place.
Purification Methods
Crystallise it several times from conductivity water (1.5mL/g) between 90o and 0o. It sublimes. After one crystallisation, ACS grade has: metal(ppm) As (1.2), K (1), Sb (7.2), V (10.2). [Becher in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 812 1963.]
Regulatory Status
GRAS listed. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database
(oral syrup, tablets). Accepted for use as a food additive in Europe.
Included in medicines licensed in the UK (eye drops; oral syrup).
