Chemistry

Tests of Ammonia

Tests of Ammonia

The presence of ammonia in any sample may be confirmed by following tests:

  • Ammonia has a characteristic pungent smell, (called ammoniacal smell).
  • Ammonia turns most red litmus blue and moist turmeric paper brown.
  • Ammonia, when added to a solution of copper sulphate, turns the solution deep
  • When a glass rod dipped in canc. HCI is brought closer to ammonia dense white fumes are observed.

NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl (white fumes)

  • Ammonia, when added to Nessler’s reagent (alkaline solution of K[HgI3]), gives the brown precipitate.