How Do You Spell AMMONIUM?

Pronunciation: [amˈə͡ʊni͡əm] (IPA)

The word "ammonium" is spelled with two m's and two n's, despite some confusion over which letters should be doubled. This is because the word comes from the name of the ancient Egyptian god, Amun, which was originally spelled with two m's and two n's in hieroglyphics. The correct way to pronounce "ammonium" is /əˈmoʊniəm/, with the stress on the second syllable. The "o" in the first syllable is pronounced like an "uh" sound, and the "i" in the second syllable is pronounced like an "ee" sound.

AMMONIUM Meaning and Definition

1. Ammonium is a noun that refers to a cation, a positively charged ion, denoted by NH4+, which is formed by the combination of a single nitrogen atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. It is derived from ammonia (NH3) through the process of protonation, where one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a positively charged hydrogen ion (H+), which results in the formation of ammonium.

   In chemical compounds, ammonium is often found as part of various salts, which are formed when ammonia reacts with acids. These salts typically possess ionic characteristics due to the presence of the ammonium cation. Ammonium salts are widely used in industrial and agricultural applications, as fertilizers, water treatment agents, and as a source of nitrogen for plants.

   Ammonium compounds exhibit distinctive properties such as solubility in water, and the ability to react with bases to form ammonia gas. Additionally, ammonium ions exhibit hydrogen bonding interactions, contributing to their stability and propensity to form crystals. Furthermore, many ammonium compounds are white, odorless solids at room temperature, exhibiting varying degrees of toxicity depending on the specific compound.

   Overall, ammonium primarily describes the cation formed by the addition of a hydrogen ion to ammonia, which is a significant factor in many chemical reactions and widely utilized in numerous industrial and agricultural applications.

2. A group of atoms, NH4, which behaves as a univalent metal in forming ammoniacal compounds; it has never been obtained in a free state.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

3. The supposed metallic base of ammonia.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for AMMONIUM

• aemobium
• ammobiem
• zmmonium
• smmonium
• wmmonium
• qmmonium
• anmonium
• akmonium
• ajmonium
• amnonium
• amkonium
• amjonium
• amminium
• ammknium
• ammlnium
• ammpnium
• amm0nium
• amm9nium
• ammomium
• ammonuum
• ammonjum
• sammonium
• ammonnium
• ammentum
• mammonizm
• domonium
• armorium
• Ammium
• Ammonup
• Abbondum
• ammoniik
• Lemonium
• Almunium
• homonium
• Ammobeum
• Immunium

Etymology of AMMONIUM

The word "ammonium" has its etymology from the compound "ammonia". "Ammonia" comes from the Latin "ammoniacum", which refers to gum resin from the tree named "ammoniacum". This tree was believed to be found near the Temple of Jupiter Ammon in ancient Libya. The term "ammoniacum" was later used to describe a gaseous substance with a pungent smell, which we now call ammonia. The word "ammonium" is derived from "ammonia" and is used to refer to the ion NH4+, which is formed when ammonia reacts with a hydrogen ion (H+).

Plural form of AMMONIUM is AMMONIUMS