Question

Ammoniacal liquor is:
(A) ammonia absorbed in water
(B) ammonium hydroxide
(C) aqueous solution of ammonia
(D) all of the above

Answer 1

Ammoniacal liquor is aqueous solution of ammonia. Here aqueous solution means solution of ammonia in water. The chemical formula of ammonia is $NH_3$.

Complete answer:
Ammoniacal liquor is ammonia absorbed in water. Thus, when ammonia gas passes through water, it will dissolve in water. We can call the resulting solution as ammoniacal liquor.
Ammoniacal liquor is ammonium hydroxide. Ammonium hydroxide is obtained when an ammonia molecule gains a water molecule. Ammonium hydroxide is a base as it gives hydroxide ions in aqueous solution. The nitrogen atom in ammonia is $s{p^3}$ hybridized as it has one lone pair of electrons and three bond pairs of electrons. The electron pair geometry of ammonia is tetrahedral and the molecular geometry of ammonia is pyramidal. The nitrogen atom in ammonium ion is $s{p^3}$ hybridized as it has zero lone pair of electrons and four bond pairs of electrons. The electron pair geometry of ammonium ion is tetrahedral and the molecular geometry of ammonium ion is also tetrahedral.We can also call the solution containing ammonium hydroxide as ammoniacal liquor. Ammoniacal liquor is aqueous solution of ammonia. Aqueous solution of ammonia is obtained when ammonia gas dissolves in water. We can also call the resulting solution as ammoniacal liquor.

Hence, the correct option is the option (D) all of the above.

Note: Ammonium hydroxide contains ammonium ion and hydroxide ion. Ammonium ion is formed when the lone pair of electrons on nitrogen atoms of an ammonia molecule is donated to a proton to coordinate covalent bonds.