At what level does ammonia become hazardous to life?

The correct answer indicates that ammonia becomes hazardous to life at concentrations around 5000 ppm (parts per million). At this level, exposure can result in significant health risks, including severe respiratory irritation and other potentially life-threatening effects.

In practical contexts, ammonia is a commonly used refrigerant, and understanding its hazardous levels is critical for safety protocols in refrigeration applications. At concentrations around 5000 ppm, ammonia can also lead to harmful environmental effects, which is why monitoring and controlling ammonia levels in the workplace is essential for safety.

The other choices reflect lower levels of ammonia exposure. For instance, while 3-5 ppm is often recognized as a threshold where sensitive individuals might start to experience discomfort, it does not pose immediate life-threatening risks for most individuals. Lower levels are usually managed with safety measures, while 1000 ppm is considered dangerous and can lead to more severe health issues, but not to the same extent as the highest concentration listed. Thus, 5000 ppm is recognized as the critical threshold where ammonia exposure becomes hazardous to life.