ammonia

Everyday

1. A colourless gas with a very strong, sharp smell, made of nitrogen and hydrogen. tree →
2. A liquid solution of this gas in water, used in some cleaning products. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons ammonia is an example of a compound with a famous smell; it is made in nature when things rot and is in animal wee. Farmers use fertilisers made from ammonia to help crops grow. In safety lessons: never mix ammonia cleaners with bleach, because it makes poisonous gas. Phrases: smell of ammonia, ammonia cleaner.

Examples

• Ammonia has a very strong smell. tree →
• The hamster cage smelled of ammonia. tree →
• Never mix bleach with ammonia; it makes a dangerous gas. tree →
• Ammonia is used to make fertilisers for farms. tree →
• Some glass cleaners contain ammonia. tree →
• Ammonia is made of nitrogen and hydrogen. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Chemical formula NH3 (one nitrogen atom, three hydrogen atoms). Safety: open windows when cleaning; never mix cleaning products. Not the same as "ammonium" (part of some salts).