Ammonia (NH₃)

Ammonia is a pungent, colorless gas composed of one nitrogen atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms in a pyramid-like shape, giving it the chemical formula NH₃. This molecular structure, combined with its uneven distribution of electrons, makes ammonia highly soluble in water – in fact, it dissolves so readily that a single volume of water can absorb about 700 volumes of ammonia gas at room temperature, forming an alkaline solution familiar to many as household cleaning ammonia.

The gas naturally occurs in the environment as part of the nitrogen cycle, produced by decomposing organic matter, but it's also manufactured on a massive industrial scale through the Haber-Bosch process, which combines nitrogen from the air with hydrogen under high pressure and temperature. Its strong basicity and ability to form caustic solutions means it must be handled with great care – exposure to high concentrations can cause severe respiratory distress and chemical burns to the eyes, skin, and lungs. You might recognize ammonia's characteristic sharp smell from household cleaners or cat urine, as both contain forms of this remarkable compound that's simultaneously essential for life and potentially hazardous.