Ammonium chloride

1. Agriculture:

• Nitrogen Fertilizer: Ammonium Chloride is widely used as a nitrogenous fertilizer, particularly for crops like rice and wheat. It provides a readily available source of nitrogen, essential for plant growth, especially in soils that are deficient in chloride. Its acidic nature also helps balance alkaline soils, improving nutrient availability.
• Soil Acidity Management: It is commonly used in areas where soil acidity needs to be regulated to enhance crop yield and nutrient uptake.

2. Metal Processing:

• Flux for Galvanizing, Soldering, and Tinning: Ammonium Chloride acts as a fluxing agent in metal industries, especially in galvanizing (zinc coating), soldering, and tinning processes. It helps by cleaning metal surfaces, removing oxides, and improving the adhesion of protective coatings to metal surfaces.
• Zinc Electroplating: It is used in electroplating baths for zinc to improve the deposition of zinc coatings on metal surfaces, enhancing corrosion resistance.

3. Pharmaceuticals:

• Expectorant in Cough Medicine: Ammonium Chloride is an active ingredient in expectorants, used in cough syrups to help loosen mucus and make it easier to expel from the lungs. It is also used in formulations to treat certain metabolic conditions like alkalosis, where acidifying agents are needed.
• Acidifying Agent: Ammonium Chloride is used to maintain the acidity of medications and to treat certain conditions where the pH balance in the body needs correction.

4. Battery Manufacturing:

• Electrolyte in Zinc-Carbon Batteries: Ammonium Chloride is used as an electrolyte in dry cell batteries (zinc-carbon batteries). It facilitates the flow of ions within the battery, allowing the electrochemical reactions necessary for producing electrical current.

5. Textile Industry:

• Dye Fixing Agent: Ammonium Chloride is utilized in the textile industry as a dye fixing agent. It enhances the ability of fibers to absorb and retain dyes during the dyeing process, resulting in better color fastness and improved fabric quality.
• Tanning and Printing: It also plays a role in leather tanning and in certain printing applications on fabrics.

6. Food Industry:

• Food Additive (E510): In the food industry, Ammonium Chloride is used as a food additive in some processes. It is particularly used in yeast fermentation in bread-making and as a flavor enhancer in salty licorice (common in Scandinavian and Dutch confectioneries).

7. Water Treatment:

• pH Adjuster: Ammonium Chloride can be used to adjust pH levels in water treatment processes. It is used in certain cases to maintain proper water chemistry, especially in industrial and commercial water systems.

8. Laboratory and Research Applications:

• Buffer Solutions: In laboratories, Ammonium Chloride is commonly used in buffer solutions, where it helps maintain the desired pH levels for chemical reactions and analyses.
• Reagent: It is employed in various chemical experiments and processes as a reagent in the synthesis of other compounds.

9. Fire Extinguishers:

Component in Dry Powder Extinguishers: Ammonium Chloride is sometimes used in dry chemical fire extinguishers as part of the formulation to combat certain types of fires, particularly those involving metals.