Ammonium compound which on heating does not give \(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\) is? (a) \(\left(\mathrm{NH}_{4}\right)_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) (b) \(\left(\mathrm{NH}_{4}\right)_{2} \mathrm{CO}_{3}\) (c) \(\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{NO}_{2}\) (d) \(\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}\)

Understanding chemical reactions is fundamental to grasping inorganic chemistry and processes such as ammonia production. A chemical reaction involves the transformation of substances through breaking and forming chemical bonds, leading to new products with different properties.

In the context of ammonium compounds, we're particularly interested in their decomposition reactions upon heating. Decomposition is a type of chemical reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances. For instance, ammonium chloride (H{4}Cl) upon heating will decompose into ammonia (H{3}) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas. However, not all ammonium compounds follow this typical behavior, which the exercise explores—highlighting the unique outcome of heating ammonium nitrite (H{4}NO_{2}). This compound's decomposition yields nitrogen gas (N{2}) and water (H_2O), without forming ammonia, showcasing the importance of understanding the specific nature of chemical reactions.

Ammonia (H{3}) is a crucial nitrogenous compound widely used in fertilizers and various industrial processes, making its production a significant topic in inorganic chemistry. The Haber-Bosch process is the industrial method for synthesizing ammonia by combining nitrogen from the air with hydrogen under high pressure and temperature, in the presence of a catalyst.

However, in a laboratory or educational setting, ammonia is often demonstrated through the thermal decomposition of ammonium compounds such as ammonium sulfate ((NH_{4})_{2}SO_{4}) or ammonium carbonate ((NH_{4})_{2}CO_{3}). Heat induces the breakdown of these compounds, releasing ammonia gas, a characteristic that educators use to illustrate chemical reactions involving nitrogen compounds. The variation in the behavior of different ammonium compounds when heated can surprise students, reinforcing the need to critically analyze the properties and predicted outcomes of chemical reactions for accurate ammonia production.

Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds, which are compounds not containing a C-H (carbon-hydrogen) bond. This includes a wide variety of substances, from minerals and metals to salts and complexes.

Within inorganic chemistry, the study of ammonia and ammonium compounds is a small yet significant part. Understanding these substances' thermal stability and decomposition products is important for applications like fertilizer production, waste treatment, and the synthesis of other nitrogen-containing chemicals. When an ammonium compound like ammonium nitrite (NH_{4}NO_{2}) breaks down to form products other than ammonia, it exemplifies the diverse reactivity and transformations that inorganic compounds can undergo. This challenges students to broaden their perspective beyond organic chemistry and appreciate the complexities found in the inorganic world.