wat06 Ammonia gas forms an alkaline solution
 Sodium hydroxide is very corrosive:TEACHER EXPERIMENT

* Photo: Put a spatula of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and a tablet of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) into the left vial.
* Close it by a stopper which is connected to the mouth of a second vial by a transfusion tubing.

* Threequater fill the second vial water, add a drop of universal indicator. The tubing ends above the liquid. (The vials are also connected by a piece of wire).
* Heat the vial with ammonium chloride and sodium hydroxide.
ObservationPhoto:  Starting at the surface the liquid changes its colour from yellow to lilac.

Explanation: In the left bottle ammonia gas is formed by heating the solids:
NH4Cl(s)  + NaOH -------heating-------> NH3(g) + NaCl(s)
In the right bottle water and ammonia gas react leaving an alkaline solution with ammonium (NH4+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions:                NH3(aq)  + H2O(l)   -------transfer of H+ -----> NH4+(aq)   +   OH-(aq)
This is another example of an acid-base reaction. This time water is the proton donor. 
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