Question #c3d97

1 Answer
Simon Moore · Grace
May 9, 2016

Ammonia is a compound , but the word "ammonium" relates only to the positive ion (#NH_4^+#)

Explanation:

Ammonia relates to the compound #NH_3#, whether it is in the gaseous state, or liquefied - but we're talking about the pure substance #NH_3# here, not a solution or mixture with anything else.

When ammonia is mixed with water, however, it deprotonates the water to a small extent, forming the ions #NH_4^+#+ and #OH^-# as follows: #NH_3 + H_2O ⇌ NH_4^+ + OH^−#

#NH_4^+# ions are known as " ammonium ions ", so the solution of ammonia in water (commonly called "household ammonia" or "ammonia solution") should really be referred to as " ammonium hydroxide ".

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