Regarding the physical properties of ammonia (NH3):
Anhydrous ammonia is easily absorbed by water. At 68°F, about 700 volumes of vapor can be dissolved in one volume of water to make a solution containing 34 percent ammonia by weight. Ammonia in water solution is called aqua ammonia or ammonium hydroxide.
Ammonia, especially in the presence of moisture, reacts with and corrodes copper, zinc, and many alloys. Only iron, steel, certain rubbers and plastics, and specific nonferrous alloys resistant to ammonia should be used for fabrications of anhydrous ammonia containers, fittings, and piping.
Ammonia will combine with mercury to form a fulminate which is an unstable explosive compound.
Anhydrous ammonia is classified by the Department of Transportation as nonflammable. However, ammonia vapor in high concentrations (16 to 25 percent by weight in air) will burn. It is unlikely that such concentrations will occur except in confined spaces or in the proximity of large spills. The fire hazard from ammonia is increased by the presence of oil or other combustible materials.
Anhydrous ammonia is an alkali.
This was from the website:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ammonia_refrigeration/ammonia/index.html#physical
Just looked for a little more info on the web and found the above. As for health affects the affects on breathing vapors are well known and can result in death at high concentrations, but here's a little more on the affects of ammonia in liquid form:
Because water can absorb ammonia so readily, it is a factor that contributes to human toxicity. Ammonia will keep spreading across contacted skin until the chemical is diluted by skin moisture.
Alkalis effect tissue differently than acids, which tend to burn and seal off a wound. Alkalis, such as ammonia cause liquidization of tissue and turn tissue into a sticky "goo" and mix with this tissue, causing further damage. As a result, anhydrous ammonia burns keep spreading until the chemical is diluted.
Cool eh? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Matt
