How can ammonia leaks be detected?

• A. Sulphur sticks or Litmus Paper
• B. Gas detectors
• C. Visual observation
• D. Olfactory detection (smell)

Answer: (A)

Ammonia is a basic gas, so materials that respond to alkaline vapors give a quick, field-friendly signal of a leak. Red litmus paper turns blue when exposed to ammonia, providing a clear, immediate indicator without any power or calibration. Sulphur sticks work similarly as simple colorimetric detectors: they’re impregnated with reagents that react with ammonia vapors to produce a visible color change on the stick, offering another quick, portable way to confirm a leak. These methods are useful for rapid screening in the field because they’re inexpensive, easy to use, and don’t rely on electrical equipment. In practice, electronic gas detectors remain important for continuous monitoring and alarms, but for a fast, inexpensive presence check, these simple indicators are highly effective.