Question
Question: What is the name of the polyatomic ion \( N{{H}_{4}}^{+} \) ?...
What is the name of the polyatomic ion NH4+ ?
Solution
A polyatomic ion is a covalently linked set of two or more atoms, or a metal complex, that behaves as a single unit and has a net charge greater than zero. This chemical species is an ion, as opposed to a molecule, which has a net charge of zero. In acid–base chemistry and the production of salts, polyatomic ions are frequently used.
Complete answer:
The ammonium cation has the chemical formula NH4+ and is a positively charged polyatomic ion. The protonation of ammonia produces it ( NH3 ). Ammonium also refers to positively charged or protonated substituted amines and quaternary ammonium cations ( NR4+ ) that have one or more hydrogen atoms replaced by organic groups (indicated by R).
When ammonia, a weak base, interacts with Bronsted acids, the ammonium ion is formed.
H+ + NH3 → NH4+
The ammonium ion is slightly acidic, and it reverts to the uncharged ammonia molecule by interacting with Bronsted bases.
NH4+ + B− → HB + NH3
Ammonia is produced by treating concentrated ammonium salt solutions with a strong base. A little quantity of ammonia is converted to ammonium ions when it is dissolved in water.
H2O + NH3 ⇌ OH− + NH4+
The amount of ammonia that forms the ammonium ion is determined by the pH of the solution. The equilibrium moves to the right when the pH is low: more ammonia molecules are transformed into ammonium ions. The equilibrium moves to the left when the pH is high: the hydroxide ion steals a proton from the ammonium ion, resulting in NH3 .
The positive polyatomic Ammonium is NH4+ . It's one among the few polyatomic ions with a positive charge.
Note:
Animal metabolism produces ammonium ions as a waste product. It is secreted directly into the water by fish and aquatic invertebrates. It is transformed to urea in mammals, sharks, and amphibians as part of the urea cycle because urea is less poisonous and can be stored more efficiently. Metabolic ammonium is transformed to uric acid in birds, reptiles, and terrestrial snails, which is solid and may be expelled with little water loss. Many plant species, especially those that grow in hypoxic soils, rely on ammonium as a source of nitrogen. It is, however, harmful to most crop species and is rarely used as a single supply of nitrogen.