A colorless gas with a sharp, pungent smell, chemical formula NH₃, used in fertilizers, cleaning products, and industrial processes. Essential for nitrogen fixation in biological systems.
Named after the ancient Egyptian god Ammon, near whose temple in Libya a salt containing ammonia compounds was first obtained. The connection comes from sal ammoniacus (salt of Ammon), which medieval alchemists discovered near the temple. The modern chemical was isolated in 1774.
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