Word
ammonium
Phoneticsam·mo·ni·um
US/əˈmoʊniəm/
UK/æmˈəʊniəm/
Definition
n. a chemical part made of nitrogen and hydrogen that is found in many fertilizers and cleaning products. It is often part of a larger chemical compound rather than existing on its own.
n. a positively charged polyatomic ion with the chemical formula NH4+. It is formed by the protonation of ammonia and typically exists as a component in various salts and chemical compounds.
Examples
“The soil test showed high levels of ammonium.”
“Farmers often apply ammonium nitrate to their fields to provide essential nitrogen for crop growth.”
“In aquatic environments, the balance between ammonia and ammonium is highly dependent on the pH level, with more acidic water shifting the equilibrium toward the less toxic ion.”
Examples
simple
“The soil test showed high levels of ammonium.”
contextual
“Farmers often apply ammonium nitrate to their fields to provide essential nitrogen for crop growth.”
complex
“In aquatic environments, the balance between ammonia and ammonium is highly dependent on the pH level, with more acidic water shifting the equilibrium toward the less toxic ion.”
Usage
Usually functions as a modifier in chemical names like 'ammonium chloride' or 'ammonium nitrate'.
Etymology
From New Latin ammōnium. Equivalent to ammonia + -ium.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/ammonium