Question

The reaction of ammonium hydroxide and carbonic acid results in formation of:
(A) Ammonium chloride and water
(B) Ammonium bicarbonate and water
(C) Only ammonium carbonate
(D) Only water

Answer 1

Ammonium hydroxide is known as ammonia water, ammonia liquor or aqueous ammonia. It is a colorless liquid with a molar mass of 35.04 g/ mol. The odour of ammonium hydroxide is pungent like that of fish. The standard value for formation enthalpy is 80kJ/mole. It is dangerous in terms of touch as it can cause irritant and swallowing.

Complete step-by-step answer: carbonic acid is a carbon containing compound which is made up of carbon oxygen double bond. It is referred to as respiratory acid because it is the only acid which can be exhaled by humans in its gaseous state by lungs. It has the tendency to dissolve limestone which therefore forms calcium bicarbonate. The structure carbonic acid has one carbon oxygen double bond and two carbon oxygen single bonds. It is considered as a natural leaching agent. It is an unstable acid as it dissociates readily and a weak acid too. It is a diprotic acid which can form two types of salt. When carbonic acid is reacted with hydroxide it generally either forms bicarbonate salt or carbonate salts. When carbonic acid is reacted with ammonium hydroxide the formation of ammonium bicarbonate salt and water takes place. The equation for it is the following.
N{{H}_{4}}OH+{{H}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}\to N{{H}_{4}}HC{{O}_{3}}+{{H}_{2}}O$$$$N{{H}_{4}}OH+{{H}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}\to N{{H}_{4}}HC{{O}_{3}}+{{H}_{2}}O

So the correct option is option (B).

Note: Ammonium hydroxide is used in the formation of organic and inorganic fertilizers. It is used for the manufacturing of chloramines which is considered as a good disinfectant. Carbonic acid is used for the protonation of the bases which contain nitrogen in blood serum. The solution containing carbonic acid are efficient as a cleansing agent for contact lenses.