Ammonium chloride

Ammonium chloride is a white crystalline salt.

It is an inorganic compound made of ammonium and chloride. This substance is highly soluble, which means it dissolves very easily in water. When you mix it with water, the solution is mildly acidic. In nature, this salt is known as salammoniac. It often forms on burning coal dumps from gases. It can also be found near volcanic vents.

These crystals form directly from gases near the vents. They do not last long because they dissolve so quickly in water.

There are many ways this salt is made and used. One way to make it is by reacting ammonia with hydrochloric acid. This can happen by adding these two liquids to gas-washing bottles. Air can act as a carrier to make the gases collide and react. Another way is through the Solvay process. This process is used to make sodium carbonate. It also helps to stop ammonia from escaping during industrial work. In the lab, scientists sometimes use it to make cooling baths. It can even be used to make a special white layer on fossils. This layer helps photographers see the details of a fossil better.

People have known about this salt for a very long time. The Romans found it near the Temple of Ammon in Siwa. Because of this, they called it sal ammoniacus. This name honors the Siwan Berber god, Ammon. The word comes from the ancient Greek word ammoniakos. This Greek word means something relating to Ammon. An ancient writer named Pliny also wrote about a similar salt. He found it in the Roman province of Cyrenaica. He called it hammoniacum because it was near the Temple of Jupiter Amun.

This salt is very important for farming around the world. About 90% of all ammonium chloride is used as fertilizer. It provides nitrogen, which is a nutrient for plants. It is about 26% nitrogen by weight. Farmers use it for crops like rice and wheat in Asia. They must be careful with how much they use. Too much can make the soil too acidic. Some plants, like grapes or beans, can even be harmed by it.

Using the right amount helps plants grow well without getting hurt.

You might find this salt in unexpected places every day. It is used as a flavor in salty liquorice. It also helps make cookies have a very crisp texture. In the ocean, giant squid use it to float. They have the salt throughout their bodies to stay balanced in the water. This works because the salt solution is less dense than seawater. It is also used in some medicines to help people cough. Even in old history, it helped make photos. In the 1800s, it was used with egg whites to make clear pictures on paper.