Answer to Question #74683 in General Chemistry for jenna

Question

why is ammonia, hydrogen gas, and ethylene similar

Answer 1

Answer: in general, the physico-chemical properties of ammonia, hydrogen and ethylene are
very different. However, they can be combined into one class of so-called signal molecules of
gaseous substances, which are small molecules of gases and can be synthesized in any living
organism or come from the outside, both forcibly and non-involuntary. At the same time, such
molecules cause certain biochemical reactions in the body, as well as physiological changes.
Thus, ammonia in high concentrations causes destruction of the liver, but at the same time it is
formed in the body with the metabolism of amino acids. Hydrogen is not formed in the body in
a molecular form, but participates only in the biochemical cycles of the animal organism in the
form of a proton, however, recently it has been used for the prevention of cancer by
administering it orally. Ethylene is a kind of hormone in plants, accelerating the ripening of
fruits. Thus, answering the question "why ammonia, hydrogen and ethylene are similar," a
completely unambiguous answer can be obtained: "because they are part of the group of signal
molecules of gaseous substances."