Question

(i) Which feature of the ammonia molecule leads to the formation of the ammonium ion when ammonia dissolves in water?
(ii) Name the other ion formed when ammonia dissolves in water.
(iii) Give one test that can be used to detect the presence of the ion produced in (i) and (ii).

Answer 1

(i) The polar nature of ammonia molecules leads to the formation of ammonium ion on dissolution in water.
(ii) The other ion formed when ammonia dissolves in water is OH−.
(iii) The neutralisation of acid such as HCl can be used to detect NH4​+. Red litmus paper can be used to detect OH- ion. The presence of OH- ion causes red litmus paper to turn blue.