Ammonium (Noun)
Meaning
The ion NH4 derived from ammonia; behaves in many respects like an alkali metal ion.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The fertilizers used in agriculture often contain ammonium as a major nitrogen source.
- In the laboratory, ammonium salts are often used as a source of the ammonium ion.
- The properties of the ammonium ion are similar to those of the heavier alkali metal ions such as potassium and rubidium.
- Ammonium is commonly used as a nitrification inhibitor in fertilizers because it inhibits the activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria.
- The reaction of ammonium with water produces a weakly acidic solution due to the formation of hydroxide ions.