ammonia
ammonia Lexical Profile
ammonia Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A colorless, pungent gas composed of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3), widely used in the manufacture of agricultural fertilizers, plastics, refrigerants, and industrial chemicals.
"The chemical plant synthesizes millions of tons of ammonia each year to supply the agricultural fertilizer industry."
An aqueous solution of ammonia gas (ammonium hydroxide) used commercially and domestically as a strong household cleaning agent.
"She diluted a small amount of household ammonia in warm water to clean the grease off the kitchen windows."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'ammonia' (the uncharged chemical gas or aqueous solution, NH3) with 'ammonium' (the positively charged polyatomic ion, NH4+, formed when ammonia reacts with acids).
• Rhymes for ammonia
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 18th century by Swedish chemist Torbern Bergman from 'sal ammoniac' (ammonium chloride), which was named in Latin and Ancient Greek after the Temple of Jupiter Ammon in ancient Libya (modern Siwa Oasis, Egypt), where the salt was historically collected from camel dung.