Substance profile
Ammonia
Ammonia is a colorless gas with a sharp, cloying, repellent odor.
01 · Identification
What Ammonia is
Ammonia is a colorless gas with a sharp, cloying, repellent odor. It boils at -33.3 °C, melts at -77.7 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
Other names for Ammonia
- anhydrous ammonia
- NH3
- Ammonia Solutions (Containing More Than 35% But Not More Than 50% Ammonia)
- R 717
- R717
- Am-Fol
- Ammonia (Anhydrous)
- Ammonia (Anhydrous) (Liquefied)
- Ammonia Gas
- Ammonia Solution, With More Than 50% Ammonia
- Ammonia, Anhydrous
- Ammonia, Anhydrous, Liquefied
- Ammonia-14N
- Anhydrous Ammonia, Liquefied
- ammonia, anhydrous
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H221 | Flammable gas. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
Precautionary statements: P210, P233, P260, P271, P273, P280, P301, P304, P310, P331, P391, P403, P501
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Ammonia properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | -33.35 °C (-28 °F) | at 760 mmHg | HSDB |
| -33.33 °C (-28 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| Melting point | -77.7 °C (-107.9 °F) | HSDB | |
| -77.78 °C (-108 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -77.72 °C (-107.9 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Density | 0.0007 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 0.771 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | DOE PAC | |
| 0.7 g/cm³ | at -33 °C | ICSC | |
| Solubility | Soluble in water forming alkaline solutions; soluble in oxygenated solvents. | HSDB | |
| In water, 4.82X10+5 mg/L at 24 °C | at 24 °C | HSDB | |
| 15% in 95% alcohol at 20 °C; 11% in alcohol at 30 °C | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| Vapor pressure | 6460 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 7500 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| 7598 mmHg | at 26 °C | ICSC | |
| Flash point | 132 °C (269.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| NA (Gas) | NIOSH | ||
| Autoignition temperature | 651.11 °C (1204 °F) | HSDB | |
| 630 °C (1166 °F) | ICSC | ||
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 15 % by volume | HSDB | |
| 13 % by volume | HSDB | ||
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 28 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Vapor density | 0.597 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 0.6 (air = 1) | CAMEO | ||
| Odor threshold | Water: 1.5 mg/L; air: 5.2 uL/L; odor safety class C; C = < 50% of distracted persons perceive warning of TLV. | HSDB | |
| Odor recognition of pure ammonia in air is 4.68 x 10+1 ppm. | HSDB | ||
| Sharp, cloying, repellent; low threshold = 0.0266 mg/cu m; high threshold = 39.60 mg/cu m; irritating concn = 72.00 mg/cu m. | HSDB | ||
| Critical temperature and pressure | 132.4 °C (270.3 °F) | HSDB | |
| Corrosivity | Corrosive gas | HSDB | |
| Corrosive to copper and galvanized surfaces | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Ammonia
Storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Contents under pressure. Storage class (TRGS 510): Gases
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Oxidizing agents, iron, zinc, copper, silver/silver oxides, cadmium/cadmium oxides, alcohols, acids, halogens, aldehydes.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
AMMONIA SOLUTION is basic. Reacts exothermically with acids to produce water and ammonium salts, which, being generally water-soluble, stay in the solution. The heat can cause evolution of quantities of unreacted ammonia as a corrosive, irritating gas. Heating ammonia solutions or treating them with strong bases also causes evolution of gaseous ammonia. Salts with oxidizing acids (such as ammonium chlorate) may explode if obtained in dry or nearly dry form [Kirk-Othmer, 3rd ed., Vol. 2, 1978, p. 470]. Intense sources of ignition can cause air/ammonia mixtures to burn or explode, but the conditions are so specialized that ammonia is generally regarded as nonflammable. Mixing of bleaching powder (hypochlorite solution) with ammonia solutions produces toxic/explosive ammonia trichloride vapors.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Ammonia in the storage compatibility matrix →
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