A positively charged ion (NH4+) formed when ammonia gains a proton, commonly found in fertilizers and cleaning products.
From 'ammonia' plus the suffix '-ium', where ammonia derives from Latin 'sal ammoniacus' (salt of Ammon), named after the Egyptian god Amun near whose temple it was first found. The chemical terminology developed in the 18th century.
Ammonium compounds connect us to ancient Egyptian religion through their name - 'sal ammoniacus' was discovered near the temple of the god Amun (Ammon to Greeks). This shows how modern chemistry preserves echoes of ancient sacred sites in its technical vocabulary.
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