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Ammonium chloride or Sal Ammoniac (chemically ammoniumchloride (NH4Cl); also zalmiak, sal armagnac) is, in its pure form, a clear white crystalline salt. Historically it was considered one of the four alchemical "spirits". In modern times it found use as an electrolyte for batteries, and as cough medicine. Its expectorant action is caused by irritative action on the bronchial mucosa. This causes the production of excess respiratory tract fluid which presumably is easier to cough up. (There is little evidence that expectorants actually work.) The main commercial use for ammonium chloride is as a fertilizer for use when growing rice. Other uses include a feed supplement for cattle, in hair shampoo, in the glue that bonds plywood, and as an ingredient in nutritive media for yeast. It is also used in cleaning products.
Sal Ammoniac was named after it was observed in the Temple of Zeus-Ammon in Egypt; its name means "salt of Ammon". It was the white crystalline substance that remained on the ceiling and walls after cameldung was burned. The modern name "ammonium" comes from Sal Ammoniac.
An industrial byproduct, in several countries sal ammoniac is used to spice up liquorice-type dark candies, and as a flavoring for vodkas. It is sold in blocks at hardware stores for use in cleaning the tip of a soldering iron and can also be included in solder as flux.
