What is the Difference Between Ammonium Chloride and Sodium Chloride?

The main difference between ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) lies in their chemical composition and the elements they are composed of.

• Chemical Composition: Sodium chloride contains sodium and chloride ions, while ammonium chloride contains ammonium and chloride ions. Sodium chloride is the salt of strong acid HCl and strong base NaOH, and it does not undergo hydrolysis.
• Physical Appearance: Both ammonium chloride and sodium chloride are white-colored crystals that are highly hygroscopic, meaning they can absorb water upon exposure to moisture in the air.
• Heating Reaction: The key difference between ammonium chloride and sodium chloride is that upon heating, ammonium chloride gives white-colored dense fumes, whereas sodium chloride does not give any white-colored fumes upon heating.
• Buffers: Sodium chloride is not a buffer, as neither its ions create an equilibrium with water.

A chemical test to distinguish between ammonium chloride and sodium chloride is not provided in the search results. However, you can identify the difference between the two compounds by heating them, as mentioned above.

Comparative Table: Ammonium Chloride vs Sodium Chloride

Here is a table comparing the differences between ammonium chloride and sodium chloride:

Ammonium chloride and sodium chloride are both white crystalline salts that are highly hygroscopic, meaning they can absorb water upon exposure to moisture in the air. However, they have different chemical compositions, with ammonium chloride containing ammonium and chloride ions, and sodium chloride containing sodium and chloride ions. Ammonium chloride has a mildly acidic taste, while sodium chloride has a salty taste. When heated, ammonium chloride produces white-colored dense fumes, whereas sodium chloride does not.