15 Facts on HF + NH3: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Ammonia is a colourless gas with a pungent smell and is mostly used in fertilizers. Let us see how NH₃ reacts with HF in the article below:

Ammonia (NH₃) is the building block of chemical synthesis and cleaning chemicals directly or indirectly. NH₃ is collected by the downward displacement of water and air. Hydrogen fluoride (HF), also known as hydrofluoric acid in its aqueous state, is a weak acid and does not ionize completely in an aqueous form.

We will be discussing key facts of HF + NH₃ reaction, like redox reaction, balanced chemical equation, conjugate pair and reaction enthalpy through this article.

What is the product of HF and NH₃

Ammonium fluoride (NH₄F­) is the product of the reaction between HF and NH₃. The chemical equation for the HF + NH₃ reaction is,

NH₃ + HF = NH₄F

What type of reaction is HF + NH₃

HF + NH₃ reaction is a synthesis reaction that helps in the synthetization of ammonium fluoride.

How to balance HF + NH₃

The balanced chemical equation for the HF + NH₃ reaction is

HF + NH₃ = NH₄F

• The unbalanced chemical equation for HF + NH₃ is,

• HF + NH₃ = NH₄F

• To check if all the atoms on the reactant and product side are equal or not. The number of moles atoms on each side of the reaction is,

Atoms	Number on reactant side	Number on product side
H	4	4
N	1	1
F	1	1

• All the atoms are already balanced; therefore, the equation is already balanced.

• Thus, the balanced chemical equation is,

• HF + NH₃ = NH₄F

HF + NH₃ titration

The titration of HF and NH₃ is impossible as both HF and NH₃ are weak acids and weak bases. The titration’s end point cannot be measured accurately as the electrolytes do not ionize completely and the pH of the solution increases gradually which makes it difficult to see the changes.

HF + NH₃ net ionic equation

HF + NH₃ net ionic equation is,

H⁺ (aq.) + NH₃ (aq.) = 4NH⁺ (aq.)

• Write the balanced chemical equation for HF and NH₃ reaction.

• HF + NH₃ = NH₄F

• Dedicate each ion with its chemical state (s, l, g or aq.) in the equation.

• HF (aq.) + NH₃ (aq.) = NH₄F (aq.)

• Split the strong electrolytes into their respective ions to obtain the complete net ionic equation.

• H⁺ (aq.) + F^– (aq.) + NH₃ (aq.) = 4NH⁺ (aq.) + F^– (aq.)

• Eliminate the ions which are present on both sides of the equation. In this particular case, there is no spectator ion available to eliminate.

• H⁺ (aq.) + NH₃ (aq.) = 4NH⁺ (aq.)

HF + NH₃ conjugate pairs

HF and NH₃ collectively do not have any conjugate pair.

• The conjugate pair of NH₄F contains its conjugate base NH₃F^–.

HF and NH₃ intermolecular forces

• The intermolecular forces between NH₃ molecules are hydrogen bonding, dispersion forces and dipole-dipole interaction.

• Dipole-dipole interaction exists in HF molecules.

HF + NH₃ reaction enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy of HF + NH₃ is 85.49 kJ/mol. The standard enthalpy of formation for the reactant and product is as follows:

Molecules	Reaction enthalpy (in kJ/mol)
HF	-332.36
NH3	-46.11
NH4F	-463.96

Reaction enthalpy (ΔH_f) = Standard enthalpy of (products – reactants)

ΔH_f = (-463.96) – (-332.36 – 46.11)

ΔH_f = 85.49 kJ/mol

Is HF + NH₃ a buffer solution

HF and NH₃ are not a buffer solution because there is no conjugate base in correspondence with HF which is actually a weak base.

Is HF + NH₃ a complete reaction

HF + NH₃ reaction is a complete reaction and no other steps can be performed in it.

Is HF + NH₃ an exothermic or endothermic reaction

HF + NH₃ reaction is an endothermic reaction as the reaction enthalpy has a positive value.

Is HF + NH₃ a redox reaction

HF + NH₃ reaction is not a redox reaction as there is no variation in the oxidation number of the atoms during the progress of the reaction.

Is HF + NH₃ a precipitation reaction

HF + NH₃ reaction is not a precipitation reaction as all the compounds are in aqueous form.

Is HF + NH₃ reversible or irreversible reaction

HF + NH₃ reaction is an irreversible reaction because the reaction path is one-way.

Is HF + NH₃ displacement reaction

HF + NH₃ reaction is not a displacement reaction rather it is a type of combination reaction as two reactants HF and NH₃ combines to form NH₄F.

Reactant A + Reactant B = Product C

Conclusion:

This article concludes that HF + NH₃  are weak electrolytes that do not ionize completely and dissociate in slow and fewer amounts. Though the product formed NH₄F is readily soluble and dissociates into ions. The reaction requires heat for progression.