ammonium

[uh-moh-nee-uhm]

noun

Chemistry.

1. the univalent ion, NH 4 + , or group, NH 4 , which plays the part of a metal in the salt formed when ammonia reacts with an acid.

ammonium

/ əˈməʊnɪəm, -njəm /

noun

1. (modifier) of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group NH 4 – or the ion NH 4 ⁺

   ammonium compounds

ammonium

1. A positively charged ion, NH ₄, derived from ammonia and found in a wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds. Compounds of ammonium chemically resemble the alkali metals.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ammonium¹

< New Latin; ammonia, -ium; coined by J. J. Berzelius in 1808

Example Sentences

Three days before Park arrived at his house, according to a federal criminal complaint, Bartkus researched how to make powerful explosions using ammonium nitrate and fuel.

From Los Angeles Times

That list includes ammonium nitrate, commonly available as a popular fertilizer at farm and garden stores.

From Los Angeles Times

In that moment, Windey ammonium thioglycolate-ed her path to victory, and in the end, she and three fellow “faithfuls” won the game in this week’s finale.

From Los Angeles Times

Distillers threw rotten fruit and molasses waste in the gallon to brew with ammonium chloride to produce something called “snake juice,” which was collected by lepers and taken around the city.

From Salon

The remaining ammonium nitrate was then transferred to another ship - called the Zimrida - which reached Ivory Coast eight days ago.

From BBC