Ammonia Gas Leak and Its Properties

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Context

An ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export facility in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu caused a tragic accident.
The accident resulted in the death of two migrant workers from Odisha and hospitalized more than 60 others.

Ammonia (NH3) is an important and highly reactive inorganic compound made of nitrogen and hydrogen.
It is a colorless and strong-smelling gas that occurs naturally in small amounts from the breakdown of organic waste.
Industries manufacture it on a large scale across the world because of its versatile chemical uses.

Natural ammonia is created during the nitrogen cycle when soil bacteria break down animal waste and dead plants.
Industries make ammonia commercially using the Haber-Bosch Process by combining atmospheric nitrogen and hydrogen gas.
This reaction happens under high pressure of 150 to 250 atmospheres and temperatures of 400 to 500 degrees Celsius using an iron catalyst.

Ammonia has a sharp and irritating smell that people can notice even in very tiny amounts.
It dissolves easily in water to create ammonium hydroxide, which is an alkaline solution that harms the eyes, skin, and lungs.
The gas turns into liquid easily under pressure and absorbs heat well, making it a useful refrigerant.
Pure ammonia is mostly non-flammable, but high concentrations in closed rooms can corrode metals like copper and brass.

Industries use ammonia as a cooling agent in cold storage units, ice factories, and food processing plants due to its cooling efficiency.
It acts as the main raw material for making nitrogen fertilizers like urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium phosphate.
Factories use ammonia to manufacture nitric acid, plastics, synthetic fibers, explosives, and industrial dyes.
Diluted solutions of ammonia work as cleaning agents and help in water treatment and purification processes.