What is Ammonia Used For?
Ammonia, a chemical compound known for its pungent odor, is a fundamental component of all life forms. Ammonia consists of one nitrogen atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms, and serves as a crucial nitrogen carrier. Nitrogen is the fourth most abundant element in living organisms by weight, making up about 2.5% of body mass. Living things need nitrogen to live, but only a few microbes are capable of “fixing” the abundant atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into a non-volatile (non-gaseous or evaporating) form that works in the context of our body’s biochemistry. Nitrogen is a necessary component in the synthesis of amino acids, which make up all proteins in the body. Aside from being central to life itself, nitrogen has many industrial uses, making it among the most synthesized inorganic chemicals. The most important use of ammonia is in the synthesis of nitric acid, an ingredient in fertilizers and explosives. Ammonia is produced in large quantities using the Haber process, an industrial process
