What is one of the primary uses of ammonia in the chemical industry?

One of the primary uses of ammonia in the chemical industry is in the manufacture of nitric acid and fertilizers. Ammonia serves as a critical raw material in the production of fertilizers, particularly ammonium nitrate and urea, which are essential for enhancing crop yields. The Haber process is often employed to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen, and this ammonia can then be further reacted with other chemicals to produce different nitrogenous fertilizers.

In addition to fertilizers, ammonia is also utilized to produce nitric acid through a process where ammonia is oxidized. Nitric acid is a key industrial chemical used in the manufacture of explosives, plastics, and dyes, reinforcing ammonia's significance in both agricultural and industrial applications.

Other options, such as the manufacture of hydrogen gas, production of sulfuric acid, and alcohol distillation, do not primarily involve the use of ammonia and thus are not directly relevant to its main applications in the chemical industry.