Facts
- Ammonia is a colorless gas with a bitter odor.
- About 80% of ammonia that is produced in industry is used as fertilizer.
- Ammonia is used as a cleaner (specifically household glass cleaner), fertilizer, a precedent to nitrogenous compounds and fermentation. There are also other minor uses that are beginning to develop such as: refrigeration, remediation of gaseous emissions, as a fuel, as a stimulant, woodworking and lifting gas.
- Ammonia and ammonia salts can be found in rain water, it is also found in our body because our kidneys secrete ammonia to to neutralize extra acid.
- Ammonia used to be collected by distilling nitrogenous animal and vegetable waste products.
- In our body ammonia is converted to carbamoyl phosphate, it then enters the urea cycle and either absorbs into amino acids or is excreted into the urine. However animals do not have this mechanism, therefore it is considered toxic to aquatic life and dangerous to the environment.
- Even in small amounts contact with ammonia to the skin can cause burning, fainting or death. Always use caution when using ammonia.