Ammonium chloride (abbreviated as chloramine) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NH₄Cl. It is the ammonium salt of hydrochloric acid and is primarily a byproduct of the soda ash industry. Ammonium chloride occurs as white or slightly yellow cubic or octahedral microcrystals, available in both powdered and granular forms. Granular ammonium chloride is less hygroscopic and easier to store, while powdered ammonium chloride is widely used as a base fertilizer for compound fertilizer production.
Ammonium chloride is highly soluble in water and glycerol, sparingly soluble in ethanol, and insoluble in benzene and ether. It readily undergoes efflorescence in dry air, losing water of crystallization, and undergoes hydrolysis in humid air, leading to corrosion from hydrogen chloride. Although ammonium salts generally exhibit alkaline properties, ammonium chloride itself is acidic. It decomposes upon heating and reacts with acids to form ammonium salts. Intense combustion may produce strongly irritating gases such as nitrogen oxides and ammonia. In hot-dip galvanizing processes, it is typically used in combination with zinc chloride.
