Ammonia is a nasty-smelling gas made of one nitrogen (N) atom and three hydrogen (H) atoms, so its chemical formula is NH3. A hydrogen “ion” is a hydrogen atom that has lost its only electron. The electron has negative charge, so the hydrogen ion is positive, with the formula H+. When ammonia dissolves in water it joins with a hydrogen ion to make a joined up ammonium ion with the formula NH4+. This ion is soluble in water. Anything that accepts hydrogen ions in this way is called an alkali. So ammonia is alkaline when it is dissolved in water.
Ammonia itself is not acidic; rather, it is a weak base. In aqueous solutions, ammonia reacts with water to form ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH), which is also known as ammonia water. The resulting solution is alkaline or basic, not acidic.
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Anton commented on :
Ammonia is a nasty-smelling gas made of one nitrogen (N) atom and three hydrogen (H) atoms, so its chemical formula is NH3. A hydrogen “ion” is a hydrogen atom that has lost its only electron. The electron has negative charge, so the hydrogen ion is positive, with the formula H+. When ammonia dissolves in water it joins with a hydrogen ion to make a joined up ammonium ion with the formula NH4+. This ion is soluble in water. Anything that accepts hydrogen ions in this way is called an alkali. So ammonia is alkaline when it is dissolved in water.
Cris commented on :
Ammonia itself is not acidic; rather, it is a weak base. In aqueous solutions, ammonia reacts with water to form ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH), which is also known as ammonia water. The resulting solution is alkaline or basic, not acidic.