15 Facts on HI + NH4OH: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Hydrogen iodide and ammonium hydroxide is a strong acid and weak base respectively. Let us study some more facts about the reaction between HI and NH₄OH.

HI and NH₄OH are inorganic compounds. HI appears as colourless to yellow liquid with a pungent odour. HI is a covalently bonded molecule which is present in both, aqueous solution as hydroiodic acid and gaseous form as hydrogen iodide. NH₄OH is a colourless aqueous solution.

This article will focus on some properties about the reaction between HI + NH₄OH, such as reaction enthalpy, intermolecular forces, conjugate pairs, etc.

What is the product of HI and NH₄OH

Ammonium iodide (NH₄I) and water (H₂O) are formed when hydrogen iodide reacts with ammonium hydroxide.

HI + NH₄OH   =   NH₄I + H₂O

What type of reaction is HI + NH₄OH

The reaction between hydrogen iodide and ammonium hydroxide is a neutralisation reaction, as an acid reacts with a base (or alkali) to form salt and water.

How to balance HI + NH₄OH

The equation for the reaction HI + NH₄OH is balanced using the following steps.

• The general equation is HI + NH₄OH = NH₄I + H₂O.
• Calculate the number of moles of each element involved in both the reactant and the product side of the reaction.

Elements	Number of moles of each element on the reactant side	Number of moles of each element on the product side
H	6	6
I	1	1
N	1	1
O	1	1

• The number of moles on the reactant side are equal to the number of moles on the product side.

• The given reaction is balanced and can be given as;

HI + NH₄OH = NH₄I + H₂O

HI + NH₄OH titration

The strength of HI can be determined by performing the titration between a strong acid and a weak base.

Apparatus used

Burette, 20ml pipette, conical flask, wash bottle, burette stand, beakers, measuring cylinder, measuring flask, funnel, glass rod.

Indicator

Methyl orange is used as an indicator to detect the presence of end point in the titration.

Procedure

• Fill the burette with 0.1M freshly prepared NH₄OH solution.
• With the help of a pipette, take 20ml of HI in a clean conical flask.
• A few drops of methyl orange indicator are added to the flask containing HI.
• Run the NH₄OH solution dropwise from the burette into the flask with constant shaking until the colour of the solution changes.
• The change in colour is the end point of the titration.
• Repeat the procedure for three concordant readings.

HI + NH₄OH net ionic equation

The net ionic equation is;

H⁺(aq) + OH^–(aq) = H₂O(l)

Below are the steps to determine the net ionic equation;

• Write the balanced chemical equation with its physical states (s, l, g, and aq).
• HI(aq) + NH₄OH(aq)  = NH₄I(aq) + H₂O(l)
• Split the substances in their ionic form.
• H⁺ + I^– + NH₄⁺ + OH^– = NH₄⁺ + I^– + H₂O
• Cancel the same ions on both sides of the equation.
• The remaining substances constitute the net ionic equation.
• H⁺(aq) + OH^–(aq) = H₂O(l)

HI + NH₄OH conjugate pairs

The conjugate pair of HI and NH₄OH are given below:

• I^– ion is the conjugate base of HI.

• NH₄⁺ is the conjugate acid of ammonia.

HI and NH₄OH intermolecular forces

The intermolecular forces between HI and NH₄OH are described below:

• The dipole-dipole interactions and London Dispersion forces are the intermolecular forces present in HI.
• In NH₄OH, the intermolecular hydrogen bonds exist.
• In NH₄I molecules, there exist an ionic bond as the intermolecular forces, which is formed by the reaction between HI and NH₄OH.

HI + NH₄OH reaction enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy between HI and NH₄OH is -152.52772.

Is HI + NH₄OH a buffer solution

The mixture HI + NH₄OH is not a buffer solution. This is due to the presence of strong acid HI.

Is HI + NH₄OH a complete reaction

HI and NH₄OH is not a complete reaction, as NH₄OH is a weak base. It does not ionise completely and remains in the solution.

Is HI + NH₄OH an exothermic reaction

HI + NH₄OH is an exothermic reaction because the reaction enthalpy is negative and heat is released during this process.

Is HI + NH₄OH a redox reaction

HI + NH₄OH is not a redox reaction because there is no change in the oxidation state of each species in the reactant and product.

Is HI + NH₄OH a precipitation reaction

HI + NH₄OH is not a precipitation reaction because all the products that are formed in the reaction are soluble in water and no precipitate is formed after the completion of the reaction.

Is HI + NH₄OH irreversible reaction

HI + NH₄OH is an irreversible reaction because of the presence of HI. A strong acid favours the forward reaction.

Is HI + NH₄OH displacement reaction

HI + NH₄OH is a double displacement reaction where NH₄⁺ displaces hydrogen from hydroiodic acid and combines with iodine to form a salt, ammonium iodide. H⁺ combines with OH^– to form water.

Conclusion

NH₄I formed by the reaction of HI + NH₄OH is used as a component of textile dye. It is an inorganic compound that is visible in the form of a white crystalline powder.