Dissociated ammonia is used as a convenient source of hydrogen for the hydrogenation of fats and oils. The petroleum industry uses anhydrous ammonia to neutralize the acid constituents of crude oil and to protect equipment such as bubble plate towers, heat exchangers, condensers, and storage tanks from corrosion. It is used in the rubber industry for stabilization of raw latex to prevent coagulation during transportation and storage. Preammoniation can prevent formation of tastes and odors that are caused by reaction of chlorine with phenols and other substances. Postammoniation is the most often used ammonia-chlorine water treatment process.
Ammonia is alkaline and caustic, and is a powerful irritant.
It is incompatible or reactive with strong oxidizers, acids, halogens, salts of silver, and zinc. It is highly water-soluble and soluble in chloroform and ether. It is easily liquefied under pressure. Synonyms for ammonia are anhydrous ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, aqua ammonia, ammonia gas, ammonia water, and aqueous ammonia. Exposure to ammonia can cause lacrimation, burning sensation, swelling of larynx, spasm of glottis, asphyxia, conjunctivitis, laryngitis, severe pulmonary and gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pains, pulmonary edema, dyspnea, bronchospasm, chest pain, vesiculation, wheezing, cold and clammy skin, convulsions, collapse, coma, and even death from acute laryngeal edema.