What Is the Chemical Name for Ammonia?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 25, 2020

Ammonia is the chemical name for the molecular formula NH3, which is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. It is also known by the name azane.

Ammonia has the properties of a colorless gas with a strong, characteristic odor. It has a density approximately half that of air and liquefies easily. Liquid ammonia is known by the name ammonium hydroxide. The odor of ammonia is easily neutralized with sodium bicarbonate. Ammonia is frequently used as an industrial fertilizer, a cleansing agent, a nitrogen source in the fermentation industry, and an effective antimicrobial agent in the food industry. Although not dangerous to mammals, ammonia is highly toxic to aquatic organisms and is classified as dangerous to the environment for this reason.