ammonia
An ammonia molecule contains one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms. This topic is part of Chemistry within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 8 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
ammonia trivia questions
What is the chemical formula for ammonia?
Answer: NH3
Bonus fact: An ammonia molecule contains one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms.
Commercial ammonia is produced mainly from nitrogen and hydrogen using which industrial process?
Answer: Haber-Bosch process
Bonus fact: The Haber-Bosch process made large-scale synthetic fertilizer production possible.
What is the molecular geometry of ammonia, NH3?
Answer: Trigonal pyramidal
Bonus fact: A lone pair on nitrogen gives ammonia its trigonal pyramidal molecular shape.
In a freshwater aquarium, what beneficial bacteria process toxic ammonia into nitrite and then nitrate?
Answer: Nitrifying bacteria
Bonus fact: Biological filtration depends on nitrifying bacteria that help convert harmful nitrogen compounds.
What term describes the nitrogen-processing startup period needed to establish beneficial bacteria in a new aquarium?
Answer: Cycling
Bonus fact: Aquarium cycling establishes colonies of bacteria that convert ammonia and nitrite into less toxic nitrate.
What is the chemical formula of the ammonium ion?
Answer: NH4+
Bonus fact: Ammonium forms when ammonia gains a proton.
What gas do these bacteria convert into biologically usable forms?
Answer: Nitrogen
Bonus fact: Nitrogen fixation makes ammonia available to plants.
NIST’s first atomic clock, built in 1949, used molecules of which substance?
Answer: Ammonia
Bonus fact: The 1949 ammonia clock proved the atomic-clock concept but was not accurate enough to serve as a time standard.