What is the charge on the ammonium ion?

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Multiple Choice

What is the charge on the ammonium ion?

Explanation:
Adding a proton to a molecule increases its positive charge, so when ammonia picks up a hydrogen ion it becomes the ammonium ion. Ammonia NH3 is neutral, and accepting H+ adds one positive charge to the system. In NH4+ there are four N–H bonds and no lone pair on nitrogen, which gives nitrogen a formal charge of +1; the whole ion therefore carries a net +1 charge. This is the conjugate acid of ammonia in acid–base chemistry, so the charge is +1.

Adding a proton to a molecule increases its positive charge, so when ammonia picks up a hydrogen ion it becomes the ammonium ion. Ammonia NH3 is neutral, and accepting H+ adds one positive charge to the system. In NH4+ there are four N–H bonds and no lone pair on nitrogen, which gives nitrogen a formal charge of +1; the whole ion therefore carries a net +1 charge. This is the conjugate acid of ammonia in acid–base chemistry, so the charge is +1.

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