ammonia

[In Ger. ammoniak; Fr. ammonia que; Port. ammonia; Ital. armoniaco = hydro chlorate of ammonia. From sal am moniac, the salt from which it is generally manufactured. That name again came from Ammonia, the district in Libya where it was first prepared, or from its being first manufactured from camels' dung collected by the Arabs at the temple of Jupiter Ammon, in the locality just named.] Chem. A substance consisting of NH3. Molecular weight, 17. Sp. gr. 8.5, compared with H; compared with air (1), its sp. gr. is 0:59. It is a colourle , pungent gas, with a strong alkaline reaction. It can be liquefied at the pre ure of seven atmospheres at 15°. Water at 0o di olves 1,150 times its volume of NH3, at ordinary temperatures about 700 times its volume. A fluid dram of ammon iæ liquor fortior contains 15 83 grains of NH3, and has a sp. gr. of 0 891. The liquor ammonia of the Pharma copœia has a sp. gr. of 0-959, and a fluid dram contains 5-2 grains of NH3. (Water being unity, the specific gravity of ammonia is "0007594.) Ammonia is obtained by the dry distillation of animal or vegetable matter containing nitrogen; horns, hoofs, ., produce large quantities, hence its name of spirits of hartshorn . Guano consists chiefly of urate of ammonia. But ammonia is now obtained from the liquor of gas-works; coal containing about two per cent. of nitrogen. Ammonia is formed by the action of nascent hydrogen on dilute nitric acid. Ammonia gas is prepared in the laboratory by heating together one part of NH4Cl with two parts by weight of quicklime, and is collected over mercury. NH3 is decomposed into N and H3 by pa ing it through a red-hot tube, or by sending electric sparks through it; the resulting gases occupy twice the volume of the ammonia gas. It is used in medicine as an antacid and stimulant; it also increases the secretions. Externally it is employed as a rubefacient and vesicant. Ammonia linimen consists of one part of solution of ammonia to three parts of olive oil. Ammonia is used as an antidote in cases of poisoning by pru ic acid, tobacco, and other sedative drugs. Substitution ammonias are formed by the replacement of H by an alcohol radical forming Amines (q.v.), and by acid radicals forming Amides (q.v.). There are also ammonia substitution compounds of cobalt, copper, mercury, and platinum. (See Watts's Dict. Chem.) ammonia alum, s. [AMMONIUM ALUM.] 188 ammonia and soda phosphate, s . ▲ mineral, called also Stercorite (q.v.). Bicarbonate of Ammonia: A mineral, called also Tes chem ache rite (q.v.). Muriate of Ammonia : A mineral, called also Sai-ammoniac (q. v.). Phosphate of Ammonia: A mineral, called also Stercorite (q.v.). ạm-mō-nĩ-ặc, a. & s. [In Sp., Port., & Ital. ammoniaco; Fr. ammoniacum.] 1. As adjective . Chem. In part composed of ammonia; pertaining to ammonia; ammoniacal. 2. As substantive: Gum-ammoniac. [АммоNIACUM (Q.V.).]