Question

NH3 gas is dried over?

Answer 1

hii....I very occasionally need liquid NH3, because a solution of an alkali metal in anhydrous NH3 is one of the very few reducing agents I have on hand in my lab, to generate NH3 gas, I know there is a method of making NH3 through decomposition of urea, although I am not too familiar with that.

I make my NH3(g) by adding NaOH(s) to aqueous ammonia solution, my problem is, drying the gas, and then subsequent condensing to make liquid NH3.

My options for drying are:
P2O5:expensive as hell for me, and hazardous to prepare (and a waste of my white P)
Conc. H2SO4, no good, will form ammonium sulfate.
NH3NO3: hygroscopic, I have finite, limited supplies, dont know if it would work.
Anhydrous NaOH-cheap as hell, don't know if it will work.
What do you think would be the best way to dry my NH3, and an even bigger problem, the best ways of doing condensation to liquid NH3 ghetto-style?
Condensation is one of the main problems, but I might try rigging a glass U-tube from a lightbulb with a jacket with a slow constant flow of diethyl ether and ice inside of a freezer, does anyone think that would work?
Before anyone points this out as I can tell they are probably going to, I am aware of the dangers of using anhydrous NH3. (I have seen a nasty picture of a guy with his burnt off too, so believe you me, I am EXTREMELY careful with NH3(l).

hope it helps.. thanks