ammonium chloride

Thân thiện

A student adds ammonium chloride to a beaker of water in the chemistry lab.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A white crystalline salt (NH₄Cl): Ammonium chloride is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula NH₄Cl. It appears as a white, odorless crystalline solid.
   • Used in dry cell batteries: It serves as an electrolyte in certain types of batteries, such as zinc-carbon dry cells.
   • Has various industrial and medical applications: Beyond batteries, it is used in other processes like metalworking, as a flux in soldering, and in some cough medicines as an expectorant.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The laboratory ordered a new shipment of ammonium chloride for the experiment.
  • Traditional dry cells often contain ammonium chloride as the electrolyte.
  • Some cold remedies include ammonium chloride to help loosen mucus.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Industrial Context: In metallurgy, ammonium chloride is referred to as "sal ammoniac" and is used as a flux to clean metal surfaces before soldering.
  • The jeweler used sal ammoniac to prepare the silver for soldering.
• Chemical Context: In chemistry, it is known for its ability to sublime (transition directly from solid to gas) upon heating.
  • When heated, ammonium chloride sublimes and reforms as crystals on a cooler surface.

Variants and Related Words

• Sal ammoniac: This is a common historical and industrial name for ammonium chloride.
• NH₄Cl: The chemical formula for ammonium chloride.

Synonyms

• Sal ammoniac (specific to certain industrial/ historical uses).

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Ammonium chloride solution: A liquid form, often used in laboratories or medicine.
  • The sample was treated with an ammonium chloride solution.
• Ammonium chloride paste: Used in some battery manufacturing or metalworking applications.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a white salt used in dry cells

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sal ammoniac