How do Ammonia and Sodium Hydroxide React?

How do ammonia chloride and sodium hydroxide react with each other? This article explains all the nitty-gritty of these two elements and their reaction to each other.

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Introduction：

Before we explain the reaction of ammonia chloride and sodium hydroxide, it is essential to first review Le Chatelier's principle which was proposed by the French scientist Henry-Louis Le Chatelier back in 1884. It states that a response that partially balances the change until a new equilibrium state is created is triggered by an action that modifies the temperature, pressure, or reactant concentrations in a system that is at equilibrium. It asserts that every modification made to a system in equilibrium will result in an adjustment to make up for the modification.

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Reaction of Ammonia Chloride and Sodium hydroxide:

Ammonium chloride exists as a colorless crystalline substance in nature and is?highly soluble in water. If dissolved in water, readily forms a slightly acidic solution. On the other hand, Sodium hydroxide is a highly corrosive and dangerous base. It can quickly decompose human tissues due to the presence of proteins even at room temperature. If ammonium (ammonia) chloride is heated with any strong base, ammonia gas will be evolved. The same is the case when it comes to reacting it with sodium hydroxide. When a mixture of ammonium chloride reacts with sodium hydroxide, it results in a pungent ammonia gas along with sodium chloride salt in an aqueous solution. This reaction can be expressed as:

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NH4Cl + NaOH → NaCl + NH3?+ H2O

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The above balance reactions show that one mole of ammonium chloride undergoes a reaction with one mole of sodium hydroxide which produces one mole of ammonia along with one mole of water and one mole of sodium chloride salt. During the reaction, the ammonium ion gains an electron from the hydroxide ion. This results in the release of ammonia gas. Moreover, The hydrogen ion from this ammonium ion in turn combines with the hydroxide ion, and both give away water.

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The rest of the ions which are sodium and chloride ions get together to form sodium chloride. Note that Sodium Hydroxide is liberated in the reaction of ammonia chloride and sodium hydroxide. NaCl may tale a white crystalline solid shape and water remains in liquid state. The sodium hydroxide used in this reaction is rather a strong caustic agent and should be handled in vented lab equipment.

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Reaction of Ammonia and Sodium hydroxide:

Both sodium hydroxide and ammonia are both bases; the latter is a strong base and the former is a weak base. Naturally, ammonia does not include hydroxide ions by itself; nevertheless, when ammonia and water mix, ammonium and hydroxide ions are produced. ?The reaction between them is an example of a classic acid-base neutralization reaction. In their reaction, the ammonium ion is represented by NH+4?which reacts with HO??of sodium hydroxide giving ammonia gas.

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NH3 + NaOH → ??NH4OH

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During this reaction, Ammonia acts as a weak base in the classic acid-base neutralization fashion and accepts a proton (H?) from water. This results in the formation of ammonium ions. On the other hand, the sodium hydroxide behaves like a strong base in this reaction as it should, and breaks down completely in water to produce hydroxide ions. This reaction is highly exothermic and should be carried out in safe lab settings.

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It should be noted that the ammonium hydroxide NH4OH formed in this reaction exists as a transient form of two ions: OH- and NH4+ ions due to its instability. These ions represent the actual nature of the resultant solution from their reaction. So, this reaction can be more accurately stated as:

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NH3+ NaOH ??→ NH4+?+ OH?

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This also means that the resultant solution will be strongly basic due to the presence of hydroxide ions floating around.