What is the chemical name for NH4OH?

The chemical name for NH4OH is ammonium hydroxide. This compound consists of the ammonium ion (NH4+) and the hydroxide ion (OH-). When naming chemical compounds that include polyatomic ions, the name of the cation is stated first, followed by the name of the anion. In this case, the cation is ammonium, which is derived from ammonia (NH3) and has a positive charge, while the anion is hydroxide, which has a negative charge.

It’s important to recognize how the other names do not correspond to NH4OH. Potassium hydroxide is KOH, sodium hydroxide is NaOH, and lithium hydroxide is LiOH; none of these contain the ammonium ion, which is key in identifying ammonium hydroxide. Understanding the correct nomenclature allows for proper identification of chemical compounds, crucial in both academic and practical applications in chemistry.