Amonium Klorida, Senyawa Kimia Penghasil Ekspektoran pada Obat Batuk Berdahak

Amonium Klorida, Senyawa Kimia Penghasil Ekspektoran pada Obat Batuk Berdahak

An expectorant is a cough medicine ingredient that can treat various types of coughs. It works by thinning mucus, making it easier to expel. This expectorant ingredient comes from ammonium chloride, a white crystalline inorganic chemical compound that is highly soluble in water.

What is Ammonium Chloride?

Ammonium chloride is a white crystalline inorganic chemical compound that is highly soluble in water. Its chemical formula is NH4Cl.

Ammonium chloride solutions have a low concentration. This is because ammonium chloride is a product of the reaction between hydrochloric acid and ammonia.

Structure of Ammonium Chloride

The structure of ammonium chloride is a crystal lattice structure. This structure consists of positively charged ammonium ions (NH^4^+) and negatively charged chloride ions (Cl−) bonded together by ionic bonds.

The ammonium and nitrogen atoms have a tetrahedral arrangement, with four hydrogen atoms located at the vertices of the tetrahedron. The nitrogen atom also has a lone pair of electrons that are not involved in bonding. Each chloride ion can be tetrahedrally coordinated, but with four adjacent and surrounding ammonium ions.

The ammonium and chloride ions in the crystal lattice create a repeating city. The entire crystal lattice structure is held together by electrostatic attractive forces between oppositely charged ions.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Ammonium Chloride

Ammonium chloride is used to make other ammonium compounds such as solder flux, fertilizers, and so on. This compound is soluble in water with a percentage of 37%.

a. Physical Properties of Ammonium Chloride

Physically, ammonium chloride is a white, odorless solid. It has a density of 1.5274 g mL-1, a melting point of 338 ºC, and a boiling point of 520 ºC. This compound is soluble in water, ethanol, methanol, glycerol, and acetate solutions.

b. Chemical Properties of Ammonium Chloride

Ammonium chloride is capable of undergoing various reactions. These reactions are very detrimental to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

One of these is that this compound can decompose when heated into hydrochloric acid and ammonia.

NH4Cl → NH3 + HCl (I)

NH4Cl + NaOH → NH3 + NaCl + H2O (II)

2 NH4Cl + Na2CO3 → 2 NaCl + CO2 + H2O + 2 NH3 (III)

Advantages of Ammonium Chloride

  • Helps prevent pathogens and infections in various plants

  • Is an effective source of N and Cl for oil palm plants

  • Can be used as fertilizer for alkaline and saline soils

  • Is a good nitrogen fertilizer in lowland areas for growing rice and other crops

  • Has a longer shelf life because ammonium chloride is less hygroscopic

Applications of Ammonium Chloride

  • Nitrogen source fertilizer

  • Cough medicine as an expectorant

  • Plywood glue

  • Leclanche cell in aqueous solution

  • Food additive in bread making as yeast nutrient

  • Acidifier

  • Cooling bath to produce low temperatures

  • Buffer solution together with ammonia

  • Animal feed

The use of ammonium chloride is not always risk-free. Potential risks include blood pressure issues, irritation, shortness of breath, coughing, nausea, and headaches. Gases from ammonium chloride impair vision. If exposed to humans, it can trigger acidic reactions or kidney dysfunction.

Therefore, it is necessary to follow early protection equipment procedures to reduce the risk of exposure to ammonium chloride. This includes wearing masks and laboratory clothing.

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