whats the difference between making an aqueous solution of potassium chloride, KCL, and one of ammonia, NH3
On, is that KCl is an ionic solid, and you dissolve that solid in water.
NH3 is a gas(at normal temps), and one dissolves the gas in water. This gas is highly soluble, it turns out.
The last difference is the gas NH3 has a high vapor pressure when it is dissolved, that is, it escapes from the solution (just take a whiff of washing ammonia). KCl is not volatile in solution.
To understand the differences between making an aqueous solution of potassium chloride (KCl) and ammonia (NH3), let's start by first understanding the properties of each substance.
Potassium chloride (KCl) is an ionic compound composed of potassium ions (K+) and chloride ions (Cl-). When KCl is dissolved in water (H2O), the ionic bond between the potassium and chloride ions is broken, resulting in the formation of hydrated potassium ions (K+(aq)) and chloride ions (Cl-(aq)). Thus, the resulting aqueous solution of KCl contains free-floating potassium and chloride ions, which make it electrically conductive.
On the other hand, ammonia (NH3) is a covalent compound composed of three hydrogen atoms bonded to a nitrogen atom. When ammonia is dissolved in water, it can form a weak base by accepting a proton from water molecules and producing hydroxide ions (OH-) and ammonium ions (NH4+). Therefore, the resulting aqueous solution of ammonia contains both hydroxide and ammonium ions, which can make the solution slightly basic.
Now, let's discuss the process of making an aqueous solution of each compound:
1. Potassium chloride (KCl):
- Measure a suitable amount of KCl solid.
- Add the measured KCl solid into a container (e.g., beaker or flask).
- Add a specific amount of water (H2O) into the container, depending on the desired concentration of the solution.
- Stir the mixture well until the KCl solid completely dissolves in water.
- The resulting solution is an aqueous solution of KCl.
2. Ammonia (NH3):
- Firstly, it's important to note that ammonia gas (NH3) is highly soluble in water. So, to prepare an aqueous solution of ammonia, we will be using a concentrated ammonia solution commonly available, which is already dissolved in water.
- Measure the desired amount of concentrated ammonia solution.
- Add the measured concentrated ammonia solution into a container.
- If necessary, dilute the concentrated ammonia solution with water to achieve the desired concentration. This can be done by adding the appropriate amount of water and mixing it well.
- The resulting solution is an aqueous solution of ammonia.
In summary, the main difference between making an aqueous solution of potassium chloride and ammonia lies in the nature of the compounds themselves. KCl dissociates into potassium and chloride ions, while ammonia dissolved in water forms hydroxide and ammonium ions. The preparation process involves dissolving the solids in water for both cases, but using potassium chloride (KCl) solid and a concentrated ammonia solution respectively.