Why in News?  

An ammonia gas leak at an ice factory in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, triggered panic among residents.  

Ammonia & its Industrial Applications  

• Ammonia (NH₃) is a colourless gas with a sharp smell, widely used in industry and naturally found in the environment and human body.   
  • It is produced by the Haber-Bosch process (N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃) under high temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst:  
  • Its concentrated form is corrosive and can cause burns or explode under high heat. It is stored as a compressed liquid.  
  • It is highly water-soluble and forms ammonium hydroxide in contact with water.  
  • It has 9 times the energy density of Li-ion batteries and 3 times that of compressed hydrogen, making it a promising carbon-free energy carrier.  
• Key Applications: