Ammonia vs. Bleach — What's the Difference?

A colorless gas with a pungent odor, soluble in water.

Can damage fabrics and surfaces if used improperly.

Effective for cleaning glass and stainless steel.

Releases chlorine gas, which can be toxic.

Can be hazardous if inhaled in large amounts.

Widely used in water treatment processes.

Does not leave streaks or residues.

Has a shelf life and loses effectiveness over time.

Commonly used in fertilizers.

A strong chemical used for disinfection and whitening.

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. A stable binary hydride, and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct characteristic of a pungent smell.

Bleach is the generic name for any chemical product that is used industrially and domestically to remove color from a fabric or fiber or to clean or to remove stains in a process called bleaching. It often refers, specifically, to a dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite, also called "liquid bleach".

A colourless gas with a characteristic pungent smell, which dissolves in water to give a strongly alkaline solution.

To remove the color from, as by means of chemical agents or sunlight

A colorless, pungent gas, NH3, extensively used to manufacture fertilizers and a wide variety of nitrogen-containing organic and inorganic chemicals. Ammonia is the chief nitrogen product excreted by fish and other aquatic animals.

To make white or colorless

See ammonium hydroxide.

To act as or use a bleach.

(inorganic compound) A gaseous compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, NH₃, with a pungent smell and taste.

To become white as a result of the loss of algal symbionts, usually following an environmental stress such as increased water temperature. Used of coral.

A solution of this compound in water used domestically as a cleaning fluid.

A chemical agent used for bleaching.

A gaseous compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, NH3, with a pungent smell and taste: - often called volatile alkali, and spirits of hartshorn.

The act of bleaching.

A pungent gas compounded of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3)

The degree of bleaching obtained.

A water solution of ammonia

(archaic) Pale; bleak.

(transitive) To treat with bleach, especially so as to whiten (fabric, paper, etc.) or lighten (hair).

(intransitive) To be whitened or lightened (by the sun, for example).

To lose color due to stress-induced expulsion of symbiotic unicellular algae.

To make meaningless; to divest of meaning; to make empty.

(uncountable) A chemical, such as sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide, or a preparation of such a chemical, used for disinfecting or whitening.

(countable) A variety of bleach.

An act of bleaching; exposure to the sun.

A disease of the skin.

To make white, or whiter; to remove the color, or stains, from; to blanch; to whiten.

To grow white or lose color; to whiten.

The whiteness that results from removing the color from something;

An agent that makes things white or colorless

The act of whitening something by bleaching it (exposing it to sunlight or using a chemical bleaching agent)

Remove color from;

Make whiter or lighter;

Ammonia is also used in the production of fertilizers and plastics.

Follow local guidelines for hazardous waste or dilute it with water before disposal.

Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia can cause respiratory irritation and other health issues.

Ammonia should never be mixed with bleach or certain detergents to avoid chemical reactions.

While ammonia is not toxic to the environment, it can contribute to air pollution.

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat.

Bleach can remove or lighten color, damaging the fabric.

Use in a well-ventilated area and avoid inhaling fumes.

Bleach can produce harmful gases if mixed with acids or ammonia and is more corrosive.

Ammonia does not degrade over time if stored properly.

Bleach effectively kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi due to its strong oxidative effects.

Ammonia can be used as a laundry booster but should not be mixed with bleach.

Ammonia can damage wood finishes and should be used cautiously.

Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohol are alternatives, though less effective.

Bleach releases chlorine gas, which has a distinct strong odor.