SOLUBILITIES OF AMMONIA IN ALKALI NITRATE AND PERCHLORATE MELTS

The solubility of ammonia at pressures between 5 and 50 mm in various (Li-K)NO3 mixtures, in (Li-Na-K)NO3 eutectic, and in (Li-K)ClO4 eutectic at different temperatures has been determined. The solubility increases with increasing Li+ ion concentration and decreases with increasing temperature. Henry's law constants (moles of solute/mm mole of solvent) are about 10-5 and 10-3 for (Li-K)NO3 mixtures and (Li-K)ClO4 eutectic, respectively. The influence of the composition of the solvent on the solubility of the ammonia and the mechanism of the dissolution process are discussed. To test the relationship between the absorption of polar gases and their dipole moments, solubility measurements of hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, chloroform, and acetone in molten (Li-K)NO3 eutectic at 160° were also attempted, but in all cases the solubilities were found to be too small (<10-7 mol/mm mol of solvent) to be detected with our experimental technique.