ammonium

noun

am·​mo·​ni·​um ə-ˈmō-nē-əm How to pronounce ammonium (audio)
: an ion NH4+ derived from ammonia by combination with a hydrogen ion and known in compounds (such as salts) that resemble in properties the compounds of the alkali metals

Examples of ammonium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In agricultural pollution, a key precursor of PM2.5, ammonium, may be more damaging to the brain, the researchers found. Abdullahi Tsanni, STAT, 14 Aug. 2023 In addition to temperature and pH, the bandage's biosensor monitors levels of ammonium, glucose, lactate and uric acid; together these measurements provide information about inflammation, infection and stage of healing. Simon Makin, Scientific American, 28 June 2023 This quaternary ammonium salt acts as a formaldehyde releaser. Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 8 Aug. 2023 Univar also stored chemicals next to each other that shouldn’t have been next to each other, like sulfuric acid next to potassium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide and nitric acid next to potassium permanganate, ammonium persulfate, and hydrogen peroxide, according to the EPA’s allegations. Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Jan. 2023 For the next five days explosive ordnance disposal technicians from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 56 and crew from the USS Hurricane searched the boat and identified the substances as urea fertilizer and ammonium perchlorate, which can both be used in explosives. Courtney Kube, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2022 To help get rid of flakes, look for a lotion with ammonium lactate or alpha-hydroxy acid. Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 20 June 2023 The authors of the study examined a specific step in the marine nitrogen cycle, called nitrification, in which microorganisms convert one form of nitrogen, ammonium, into nitrate, a form plants and other marine microorganisms require to survive. Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2010 Mazepin asked the president to help to re-start ammonium fertilizer shipments via Ukraine’s Odesa port as part of a grain shipment deal that was extended last week. Bloomberg.com, 22 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ammonium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from ammonia

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ammonium was in 1808

Dictionary Entries Near ammonium

Cite this Entry

“Ammonium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ammonium. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

ammonium

noun
am·​mo·​ni·​um ə-ˈmō-nē-əm How to pronounce ammonium (audio)
: an ion that comes from the combination of ammonia with a hydrogen ion

Medical Definition

ammonium

noun
am·​mo·​ni·​um ə-ˈmō-nē-əm How to pronounce ammonium (audio)
: an ion NH4+ derived from ammonia by combination with a hydrogen ion and known in organic compounds (as quaternary ammonium compounds) and in compounds (as salts) that resemble in properties the compounds of the alkali metals

More from Merriam-Webster on ammonium

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