ammonium chloride

American  

noun

Chemistry, Pharmacology.

1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, NH 4 Cl, which produces a cooling sensation on the tongue, used chiefly in the manufacture of dry cells, in electroplating, and in medicine as an expectorant.

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ammonium chloride British  

noun

1. Also called: sal ammoniac.  a white soluble crystalline solid used chiefly as an electrolyte in dry batteries and as a mordant and soldering flux. Formula: NH 4 Cl

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ammonium chloride Scientific  

1. A white crystalline compound used in dry cells, as a soldering flux, and as an expectorant. Also called sal ammoniac. Chemical formula: NH ₄ Cl.

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Etymology

Origin of ammonium chloride

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Distillers threw rotten fruit and molasses waste in the gallon to brew with ammonium chloride to produce something called “snake juice,” which was collected by lepers and taken around the city.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2025

“Further tests on mice confirmed that those with the OTOP1 gene avoided ammonium chloride, while those without it didn’t mind the taste,” the release continued.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2023

As this finding would indicate, many animals, including humans, find the taste of ammonium chloride to be aversive — but as the popularity of salmiak would indicate, that’s not universally the case.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2023

"We saw that ammonium chloride is a really strong activator of the OTOP1 channel," Liman said.

From Science Daily • Oct. 5, 2023

The paste doesn’t contain sulphuric acid, but instead has in it a stuff called sal ammoniac; that is, ammonium chloride.

From Letters of a Radio-Engineer to His Son by Mills, John