Ammonium Hydroxide
What Is It?
Ammonia (H3N) is a gas. When dissolved in water, Ammonia forms Ammonium Hydroxide (H5NO). Ammonia and Ammonium Hydroxide are used in a large variety of products including hair dyes, hair bleaching products, shaving cream and hair grooming products.
Why Is It Used?
Ammonia and Ammonium Hydroxide function as pHA measurement of the acidity or basicity of a substance. pH is the negative logarithm (base 10) of the concentration of hydrogen ions in solution. Water has a concentration of hydrogen ions of 1.0 x 10-7, and thus has a pH of 7. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic, and a pH higher than 7 is considered basic. adjusters. When used in hair dyes and colors, Ammonia helps prepare the hair so that the dye can diffuse into the hair shaft. Ammonium Hydroxide may also function as a denaturantIngredients added to ethyl alcohol (grain alcohol) to make it unsuitable for drinking, usually by imparting an intensely bitter taste. In the United States, the use of denaturants are controlled by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in the Department of Treasury..
Scientific Facts
Ammonia is a colorless gas with a very pungent odor. Ammonia is found throughout the environment including in air, water, soil and in plants and animals including humans. Ammonium Hydroxide is the name given to a solution of Ammonia in water. Ammonium Hydroxide does not exist as an isolated chemical.
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Ammonium Hydroxide on its lists of direct food substances affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS“GRAS” is an acronym for the phrase Generally Recognized As Safe. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive.). It can be used at levels not to exceed good manufacturing practices. Both Ammonia and Ammonium Hydroxide are FDA approved indirect food additives. Ammonia may be used as a defoaming agent used in the manufacture of paper and paperboard used to package food, and Ammonium Hydroxide may be used in polymers that come in contact with food.
Ammonium Hydroxide and Ammonia are identified as food additives that may be safely used following prescribed conditions.
Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations
Ammonia has been evaluated by the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and a toxicologyToxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical and physical agents on living organisms. fact sheet
Ammonia is listed in the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union (see Annex III, Part I). It is allowed for use at a maximum concentration of 6% as NH3, and must be labeled, contains Ammonia if the concentration is above 2%.
More Scientific Information
Ammonia used commercially can be anhydrous ammonia (not dissolved in water) or an aqueous solution of ammonia and water referred to as Ammonium Hydroxide. Anhydrous ammonia must be stored under pressure or at low temperature to remain a liquid.