Ammonia Chemistry Honors Project

Colegio Bolivar

May 31, 2017

Sergio Arango
Abstract

This paper will describe acids and bases and will go into depth into Ammonia. Acids have

low pH and basics have high pH, this will be explained further on. This research defines

strong acids and amphiprotic and amphoteric substances. The characteristics of Ammonia

will be listed and explained. Also to be mentioned: synthesis of Ammonia, industrial uses

of Ammonia, synthesis of Ammonia.

Introduction

Acids are basically chemical donors and bases are the opposing receivers. There have been

many ways to classify acids and bases throughout the history of chemistry. First appeared

the Arrhenius model in the nineteenth century, then the Bronsted-Lowry model which

changed the whole idea of acidity. The latest update in the twentieth century was the Lewis

Acid Theory which modified somehow the previous idea proposed by Bronsted and Lowry

(Lewis Concept of Acids and Bases, 2013). All three are in essence similar but differ in

small details that make the selection for classifications different. Strong acids will be more

chemically reactive and ionize more. Amphoteric chemicals are those who can act as acid

or alkaline.
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT 2
INTRODUCTION 3

ACIDS, BASES AND PH 5

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACIDS AND BASES 8
ARRHENIUS ACID MODEL 10
ACIDS 10
BASES 11
STRONG ACID 11
BRONSTED-LOWRY THEORY 12
ACIDS 12
BASES 12
LEWIS ACIDS 14
AMPHOTERIC 15
AMPHIPROTIC 15

AMMONIA 16
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES 16
AMMONIA IN NATURE 18
NITROGEN CYCLE 18
ROLE OF AMMONIA IN THE NITROGEN CYCLE 19
USES 20
FERTILIZER 20
PREVENTING CORROSION 20

REFERENCES 22
Acids, Bases and pH
Table taken from (Cushman & 2015, n.d.).

This table shows the relationship of different pH values and the activity of Hydrogen
cations and Hydroxide anions.

Acids and bases differ in levels of pH. To start, pH is an exponential amount of Hydrogen

protons in a substance, just as pOH is an exponential amount of hydronium ions in a

substance.

pH= -log (molar concentration of H3O+)

Etymology of pH:
The name refers in Latin to pondus hydrogenii, which means hydrogen weight in

English.

H3O+=hydronium ions

Water----- 1.0x10^-7 molar concentration of hydronium ions

pH=log(1.0x10^-7)

pH=7 (neutral)

Sig figs are after decimal point, for logarithms.

Orange juice

Molar con. Of hydronium ions= 1.5x10^-4

pH=log (1.5x10^-4)

pH=3.82 (acidic)
Backwards process:

They give you the pH and want the molar concentration of hydronium ions

pH=3.82

3.82=-log (H3O+)

-3.82=log (H3O+)

simplified formula for hydronium ion concentration:

(H3O+)=10^-pH

Always:

(H3O+)(OH-)=1.0x10^-14

pOH=-log (OH-)

always:

pOH+pH= 14
 Differences between Acids and Bases

Table 1. Shows physical and chemical properties that differ from acids to bases (low pH to

high pH).

Taken from:

Helmenstine, A. M., & Ph.D. (n.d.). Heres What an Acid Is in Chemistry. Retrieved May 23,

2017, from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-acid-and-examples-604358

Types of Acid and Base models:

Arrhenius Acid Model

Lewis Acid Model

Examples of acids:

Hydrochloric Acid

Sulfuric Acid

Hydrofluoric Acid

Acetic Acid

Citric Acid
Arrhenius Acid Model

Historic Context:

The model was proposed by Svante Arrhenius in 1884. He divided substances into acids

and bases by which kind of ions they formed when joined with water.

Acids

The model of an Arrhenius acid is by definition a substance that delivers Hydrogen protons

when put in an aqueous solution. This happens because the hydrogen bonds in water are

capable of detaching H+ ions from the molecule.

For example: hydrogen chloride is put in an aqueous solution and hydrogen protons are

released.

The hydrogen chloride breaks into Hydrogen cations and Chloride anions, increasing the

concentration of Hydrogen ions in the solution.

The hydrogen protons then react with water to from hydronium ions:

H2O + [H]+[H3O]+
Bases

The model of an Arrhenius base is a substance that increases the concentration of OH ions

in an aqueous solution. NaOH is an example of a base by this definition.

Example:

Acid-Base Reaction/ Neutralization Reaction:

A base can be mixed with and acid, (hopefully with both pHs equalizing 14) to produce

water and salt. In order for this neutralization to happen the base and the acid need to be

equally strong.

Strong Acid

A strong acid is one that complete disassociates when put in H2O. This means that given

the enough moles of water it will produce all the ions it can and there will be no more acid

left. This is when the acid has completely ionized.

Bronsted-Lowry Theory

Invented in 1923 by Johannes Nicholaus Bronsted and Thomas Braunsted Lowry, the

Bronsted-Lowry Theory had a different view towards acids and bases than the Arrhenius

view. Bronsted and Lowry developed their ideas independently but are remembered

together. Their conceptual thinking identified acids as proton donors and bases as proton

acceptors.

Acids
This theory was similar to the Arrhenius model in the way that acids release Hydrogen

ions. This theory is mainly revolutionary in the bases.

Bases
The Bronsted-Lowry Theory states that a base does not necessarily have to be one that

releases hydroxide ions in an aqueous solution. The new classification made a broader

range for the bases. A base could now be anything that accepts protons in an aqueous

solution, most do still release hydroxide ions but the new way made sure that some bases

were not left out.

See below the following example containing Ammonia:

Ammonia (a considered base) here receives a hydrogen proton from the acid hydrogen

chloride. The distinction is clear, the hydrochloric acid is donating protons and the base

Ammonia is accepting them.

Lewis Acids

Gilbert Newton Lewis, with a chemistry PHD from Harvard, taught chemistry at Berkley.

He described acids and bases in an even broader, by selecting a criteria of electron-pair

donors and acceptors. This idea is in a way opposite to the Bronsted-Lowry Theorem

because it does not refer to protons which are positively charged ions, but on negative

particles. As we change this, then the acids become the acceptors and the bases become the

donors of electron pairs.

Examples are shown below:

Amphoteric

An amphoteric is a substance that can act as an acid or a base. The word comes from

Greek amphoteros or amphoteroi or "each or both of two", essentially meaning "either acid

or alkaline". (Helmenstine & Ph.D., n.d.) By the Bronsted-Lowry Theory, an amphoteric

chemical would be able to donate and receive protons. By the Lewis Acid Model, an

amphoteric chemical would be able to receive and donate electron pairs. Like Helmestine

says, Metal oxides or hydroxides are amphoteric. Whether a metal compound acts as an

acid or a base depends on the oxide oxidation state.

Amphiprotic

The term amphiprotic could be described as half amphoteric. Amphiprotic are those who

can and cannot behave like amphoteric. Not all amphoteric molecules are amphiprotic,

rather amphiprotic are a branch of amphoteric. Amphiprotic are not always behaving like

amphoteric molecules, but only under some circumstances. Meaning that amphiproticity is

like a more partial form of amphotericity.

Ammonia

Chemical Properties

Formula: NH3

Molar Mass: 17.031 grams/mole

State at room temp.: Gas

Melting Point: -77.73C

Boiling Point: -33.34C

Density (critical): 0.235 grams/milliliter

Ammonia is a basic Pnictogen Hydride. Ammonia is a molecule that takes an important

part in the biological Nitrogen cycle. It is also used for commercial and purposes.

The image above, taken from (Ammonia Molecule | Shape | TutorVista.com, n.d.), shows

the bonding and the geometry of Ammonia.

The angles between Nitrogen and each Hydrogen are all 107.8, this is caused by the lone

pair of electrons held by Nitrogen. Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons and each Hydrogen has

1. Nitrogen forms a double covalent bond with each Hydrogen. This forms a tetrahedral

electron geometry and a final trigonal pyramidal shape for the overall molecule.
Ammonia in Nature

Ammonia is found wherever Nitrogen fixing bacteria are. This means that Ammonia is

likely to be present in environments with high Nitrogen concentrations, not meaning only

diatomic N2, but Nitrogen present in any organic and inorganic form. Ammonia and it`s

derives like Nitrates and Nitrites are present in the bottoms of lakes and rivers, where it is

deposited as fish waste. When it rises to high concentrations it may be dangerous to the fish

and other wildlife in the ecosystem. Ammonia is also present in the soil taking part in the

Nitrogen cycle.

Nitrogen Cycle

The Nitrogen cycle is one of earths biochemical cycles. The Nitrogen cycle is mainly

carried out by plants and bacteria. All living things use DNA or RNA as their hereditary

code. Nucleic acids, both ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid are macromolecules

that contain Nitrogen. Nitrogen is also an elemental part of the monomer of proteins, amino

acids. Nitrogen forms the amino group opposite in direction from the carboxylic acid. on

the basic structure of an amino acid. With the need for living things to have a source of

Nitrogen, most still cannot use the Nitrogen available on the atmosphere. Just the way

everything in biology works, symbiotic relationships between species and individuals lead

to the forming of biochemical cycles, one of them being the Nitrogen cycle. This has to do

with Ammonia because, the cycle would not be complete without Ammonia. Ammonia

makes a key step to make the Nitrogen accessible to most organisms.

Role of Ammonia in The Nitrogen Cycle

This picture resembles the Nitrogen cycle, in which Ammonia takes place, occurring in

nature. (Pawlowski, n.d.).

Plants take in Ammonium([NH4]+) which is an ion with a positive one charge. It is

synthezised by the joining of Ammonia and a hydrogen proton. In order for plants to take in

Ammonium, first detritivores must digest organic Nitrogen and produce Ammonium. The

other source for Ammonium is through Ammonia. Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria harvest
Ammonium by fixing Ammonia. This fixing is the adding of a proton to produce the

inorganic ion [NH4]+ (Ammonium).

Uses

Fertilizer

Ammonia is used mainly for cleaning. It may be used to whiten clothing, replacing bleach.

Ammonia is also used as fertilizer. Ammonia is applied to soil so Nitrogen can get to the

plants as Ammonium. Ammonia is processed by ground Nitrogen fixing bacteria and fixed

into [NH4]-, which plants can use. This enhances plant growth from home backyards to

mass production of plants and plant products.

Preventing Corrosion

Ammonia is also used to neutralize weak acids. The neutralization of acids is done by

applying Ammonia to the metal structures that will be exposed to weak acids. This way the

Ammonia can donate electron pairs to the weak acid, the same way the acid is donation

hydrogen protons to Ammonia. This prevents the acid from reacting with the metal

structure and causing it to corrode. Corrosion may damage pure metal and alloy structures

used for industrial purposes. That is another way Ammonia can be applied to industry.
Conclusion

Ammonia is a weak base that can be used for many things. Ammonia plays important roles

in natural biochemical cycles. Ammonias role in the nitrogen cycle makes it great for

enhancing growth of bacteria and plants for any type of industrial, research, and or

commercial purposes. The alkalinity of ammonia makes it able to counteract weak acids

for any purpose.

 References:

Pubchem. (n.d.). ammonia | NH3 - PubChem. Retrieved May 28, 2017, from

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/ammonia

Ammonia, anhydrous - Substance Information - ECHA. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.028.760

Ammonia (CHEBI:16134). (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chebi/searchId.do?chebiId=16134

Ammonia Molecule | Shape | TutorVista.com. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

http://www.tutorvista.com/chemistry/ammonia-molecule

Helmenstine, PH.D., A. M. (n.d.). Amphiprotic Definition. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-amphiprotic-604775

Aquaworld Aquarium - Article - Ammonia Toxicity and the pH Relationship. (n.d.). Retrieved

from http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Articles/TonyGriffitts/Ammonia.html

Basic Water Chemistry Part 3: Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2017,

from http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=62
Reece Campbell. (n.d.). Biology (Vol. Eight Edition, p. 1233).

bleach | chemistry. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2017, from

https://www.britannica.com/technology/bleach-chemistry

Brnsted Concept of Acids and Bases. (2013, October 2). Retrieved May 28, 2017, from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry/Acids_and_Bases/A

cid/Bronsted_Concept_of_Acids_and_Bases

Bronsted-Lowry theory | chemistry. (n.d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/science/Bronsted-Lowry-theory

CONCOA - Ammonia Properties. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

https://www.concoa.com/ammonia_properties.html

Helmenstine, A. M., & Ph.D. (n.d.). Heres What an Acid Is in Chemistry. Retrieved May 23,

2017, from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-acid-and-examples-604358

Khan Academy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.khanacademy.org

Lewis Concept of Acids and Bases. (2013, October 2). Retrieved May 28, 2017, from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry/Acids_and_Bases/A

cid/Lewis_Concept_of_Acids_and_Bases
Pawlowski, M. (n.d.). Nitrogen Cycle by Matthew Pawlowski. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

https://www.thinglink.com/scene/700698802109022209

PH - New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/PH

Strong and Weak Acids. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/acidbaseeqia/acids.html

The Facts About Ammonia. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from

https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/ammonia_tech.ht

The Lewis Definitions of Acids and Bases. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2017, from

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch11/lewis.php

Uses of Ammonia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2017, from

http://www.rmtech.net/uses_of_ammonia.htm

John Arthur Harrison PH.D. (n.d.). Visionlearning.com. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

http://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/The-Nitrogen-Cycle/98
Helmenstine, A. M., & Ph.D. (n.d.). What Does Amphoteric Mean in Chemistry? Retrieved May

29, 2017, from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-amphoteric-and-examples-604776

Cushman, C. C. | F., & 2015. (n.d.). Why is the pH Scale Logarithmic? Retrieved May 29, 2017,

from https://www.ysi.com/ysi-blog/water-blogged-blog/2015/02/why-is-the-ph-scale-

logarithmic