Chemical Formula of Ammonium (NH4+)

Ammonium is a positively charged polyatomic ion that consists of one nitrogen atom (N) and four hydrogen atoms (H). Its chemical formula is NH4+. In this response, we will explore the composition and structure of ammonium in detail.

Composition of Ammonium:
Ammonium ion (NH4+) is formed when a hydrogen ion (H+) is added to ammonia (NH3) through a process called protonation. The hydrogen ion attaches itself to the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom, resulting in the formation of a positively charged ammonium ion.

Ammonium has a tetrahedral structure, with the nitrogen atom at the center and the four hydrogen atoms surrounding it. The nitrogen atom has a positive charge due to the addition of the hydrogen ion.

Explanation:
Ammonium is a cation, which means it carries a positive charge. It is commonly found in various compounds, such as ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4. These compounds are widely used in fertilizers, cleaning products, and pharmaceuticals.

When ammonium is dissolved in water, it readily dissociates into its constituent ions, NH4+ and H-. The ammonium ion (NH4+) acts as a weak acid, donating a proton (H+) to the surrounding water molecules.

The positive charge on the ammonium ion makes it attracted to negatively charged species. This property allows ammonium to form salts with various anions, such as chloride (Cl-), nitrate (NO3-), and sulfate (SO42-). The resulting compounds become electrically neutral due to the balance of charges.

In summary, the chemical formula of ammonium (NH4+) represents a positively charged polyatomic ion consisting of one nitrogen atom and four hydrogen atoms. It is formed by protonation of ammonia (NH3) and has a tetrahedral structure. Ammonium is commonly found in various compounds and plays a significant role in different industries.

NH₄⁺ is the formula of ammonium.