Give reason: Why is ammonia highly soluble in water?

Ammonia (NH3) is highly soluble in water due to the presence of hydrogen bonding between ammonia molecules and water molecules. Hydrogen bonding is a type of intermolecular force that occurs when a hydrogen atom in a polar covalent bond (such as the one between hydrogen and nitrogen in ammonia) interacts with an electronegative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen.

In the case of ammonia and water, the nitrogen atom in ammonia is more electronegative than hydrogen, which leads to a partial negative charge on the nitrogen atom and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms. Water molecules are also polar, with oxygen being more electronegative than hydrogen. As a result, the oxygen atom in water carries a partial negative charge, and the hydrogen atoms carry a partial positive charge.

The partial negative charge on the oxygen atom of water molecules and the partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms of ammonia molecules create attractive forces between the two substances. These attractive forces are known as hydrogen bonds. Ammonia molecules can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules by donating a hydrogen atom to the partially negative oxygen atom of water. This interaction between ammonia and water allows them to mix and dissolve easily in each other.

The formation of hydrogen bonds between ammonia and water molecules overcomes the tendency of ammonia to stay as a gas and enhances its solubility in water. This solubility is essential in various applications, such as in the production of ammonia-based fertilizers, cleaning agents, and in industrial processes where ammonia is used as a reactant or solvent.