ammonia liquor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Industrial
Quick answer
What does “ammonia liquor” mean?
A concentrated aqueous solution of ammonia gas (NH₃).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A concentrated aqueous solution of ammonia gas (NH₃).
The term often specifically refers to the ammoniacal solution obtained as a by-product of coke production from coal, also known as ammoniacal liquor or gas liquor. It is a commercial source of ammonia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in both technical contexts. 'Ammoniacal liquor' or 'gas liquor' are equally common synonyms, with no strong regional preference.
Connotations
Neutral industrial/chemical term. Connotes manufacturing, gasworks, or chemical processing.
Frequency
Equally infrequent and specialised in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “ammonia liquor” in a Sentence
The ammonia liquor [VERB] from the coking process.They [VERB] the ammonia liquor to recover ammonia.Ammonia liquor is [ADJECTIVE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ammonia liquor” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The plant will liquor out the ammonia during scrubbing.
- The gas is liquored to form ammonia liquor.
American English
- The process liquors the ammonia for recovery.
- They need to liquor the off-gas to capture ammonia.
adjective
British English
- The ammonia-liquor stream requires neutralisation.
- They installed a new ammonia-liquor recovery unit.
American English
- The ammonia-liquor flow rate was increased.
- Ammonia-liquor treatment is the next step.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in industrial supply contracts and chemical market reports.
Academic
Used in chemical engineering, industrial chemistry, and historical texts on coal gasification.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term in chemical process descriptions, environmental engineering (wastewater treatment), and legacy industrial operations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ammonia liquor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ammonia liquor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ammonia liquor”
- Using 'ammonia liquor' to refer to household cleaning ammonia (it's too specific).
- Treating it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an ammonia liquor').
- Confusing it with 'liquorice' due to similar spelling.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Household ammonia is a dilute, purified solution. Ammonia liquor is a concentrated, often impure industrial product from specific processes like coking.
No. Household ammonia is a dilute, purified solution. Ammonia liquor is a concentrated, often impure industrial product from specific processes like coking.
Absolutely not. It is a corrosive, toxic chemical, not an alcoholic beverage. 'Liquor' here is an old chemical term for a liquid, especially one produced by distillation or as a process fluid.
It is a source of ammonia, which can be used to produce fertilisers (e.g., ammonium sulphate), in chemical synthesis, or in water treatment (for pH adjustment).
In industrial/chemical contexts, 'liquor' historically refers to any liquid solution, effluent, or product from a process (e.g., 'black liquor' in papermaking, 'mother liquor' in crystallisation). It predates the dominant association with alcoholic drinks.
A concentrated aqueous solution of ammonia gas (NH₃).
Ammonia liquor is usually technical/industrial in register.
Ammonia liquor: in British English it is pronounced /əˌməʊniə ˈlɪkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌmoʊniə ˈlɪkɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'liquid ammonia' that's not pure gas, but 'liquor' hints at its industrial, not beverage, origin.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRODUCT IS A BY-PRODUCT / WASTE IS A RESOURCE.
Practice
Quiz
What is ammonia liquor most specifically associated with?