ammonia

[ uh-mohn-yuh, uh-moh-nee-uh ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless, pungent, suffocating, highly water-soluble, gaseous compound, NH 3 , usually produced by the direct combination of nitrogen and hydrogen gases: used chiefly for refrigeration and in the manufacture of commercial chemicals and laboratory reagents.
2. Also called aqueous ammonia,. this gas dissolved in water; ammonium hydroxide.

ammonia

/ -njə; əˈməʊnɪə /

noun

1. a colourless pungent highly soluble gas mainly used in the manufacture of fertilizers, nitric acid, and other nitrogenous compounds, and as a refrigerant and solvent. Formula: NH 3
2. a solution of ammonia in water, containing the compound ammonium hydroxide

ammonia

/ ə-mōn′yə /

1. A colorless alkaline gas that is lighter than air and has a strongly pungent odor. It is used as a fertilizer and refrigerant, in medicine, and in making dyes, textiles, plastics, and explosives. Chemical formula: NH 3 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of ammonia¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from New Latin, so called as being obtained from sal ammoniac ( def ); ammoniac

Word History and Origins

Origin of ammonia¹

C18: from New Latin, from Latin ( sal ) ammōniacus (sal) ammoniac ¹

Example Sentences

Mega-dairies are among the largest ammonia emitters, contributing to fine particulate matter pollution that causes respiratory illnesses and premature death.

From Los Angeles Times

The Cleddau Project said it found high levels of ammonia in the water and that tests showed sewage was being discharged at levels toxic to fish.

From BBC

Cigarettes release thousands of different chemicals when they burn, including carbon monoxide, lead and ammonia.

From BBC

Perhaps most notably, it has a very low mass — 10% the mass of Jupiter despite being 80% its volume, with an atmosphere of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and ammonia.

From Salon

One case of tennis balls and one gallon of ammonia later, I no longer had a squirrel problem.

From Los Angeles Times