5.25      describe the use of ammonia in the manufacture of nitric acid and fertilisers

Ammonia can be oxidised to form NO2 which can be reacted with further oxygen and water to make nitric acid, HNO3.

Ammonia is an alkaline gas.  It reacts with acids like nitric acid and sulfuric acid to make the salts ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate respectively. These salts are important fertilisers.  The reactions between ammonia and the acids are neutralisation reactions.  The equations are below:

With nitric acid              NH3(g)    +    HNO3(                  ®            NHNH4NO3(aq)

With sulfuric acid           2NH3(g)   +   H2SO4(aq)            ®            (NH4)2SO4(aq)