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Why is an aqueous solution of $\ce{NH3}$ (ammonia) often referred to as $\ce{NH4OH}$? I know that dissolved ammonia gas reacts with water in the following equilibrium:

$$\ce{NH3 + H2O <=> NH4+ + OH-}$$

However, $K_\mathrm b = 1.8\times10^{-5}$. Since only a small amount of $\ce{NH3}$ dissociates, why is the whole solution called "ammonium hydroxide"?

Is ammonium hydroxide soluble, or is it an actual aqueous species?

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    $\begingroup$ It's not always called ammonium hydroxide. I call it "ammonia" or "aqueous ammonia." It's just a preference thing. It's an easy way to convey "aqueous ammonia." $\endgroup$
    – SendersReagent
    Commented Mar 22, 2016 at 23:31
  • $\begingroup$ chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/8910/… $\endgroup$
    – user148850
    Commented Jun 29 at 10:43
  • $\begingroup$ I don't feel so @SendersReagent, as liquor ammonia has ammonia gas & water in the $\mathrm{7:13}$ ratio $\endgroup$
    – user148852
    Commented Jun 29 at 10:52
  • $\begingroup$ Dear @YusteiMa, you have to add only the words "with $\mathrm{35%}$ of ammonia gas by volume and $\mathrm{65%}$ of water by volume $\endgroup$
    – user148852
    Commented Jun 29 at 11:00

2 Answers 2

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The fictitious substance “ammonium hydroxide” $(\ce{NH4OH})$ was suggested in accordance with the Arrhenius theory. In 1882–1883, Svante Arrhenius had researched into the conductivity of electrolytes. His theory of electrolytic dissociation was discussed in his dissertation in 1884 and published in refined form in 1887. In 1903, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Svante Arrhenius “in recognition of the extraordinary services he has rendered to the advancement of chemistry by his electrolytic theory of dissociation”.

According to the Arrhenius definition, acids are compounds that dissociate and release hydrogen ions $(\ce{H+})$ into the solution:

$$\ce{HCl -> H+ + Cl-}$$

Bases are defined as compounds that dissociate and release hydroxide ions $(\ce{OH-})$ into the solution:

$$\ce{NaOH -> Na+ + OH-}$$

The need for a hydroxide group in bases according to the Arrhenius definition led to the proposal of $\ce{NH4OH}$ (i.e. “ammonium hydroxide”) as the formula for hydrated ammonia in water. (Note that this problem does not exist in the definition of bases according to the Brønsted–Lowry theory, which was proposed in 1923.)

However, ammonium hydroxide cannot be isolated; the fictitious solid compound does not exist. Nevertheless, the misleading traditional name “ammonium hydroxide” is still widely used for solutions of ammonia in water.

Actually, a solid compound (melting point: −79 °C) with the correct atomic composition (molecular formula) can be crystallized from aqueous solutions of ammonia. But even this compound is not ammonium hydroxide $(\ce{NH4OH})$. It actually is a real hydrate $(\ce{NH3.H2O})$ in which the molecules are linked by hydrogen bonding.

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Since only a small amount of ammonia dissociates, why is the whole solution called "ammonium hydroxide"?

Well the operative word is dissociates. Just because it dissociates doesn't mean ammonium hydroxide isn't in solution. There are many salts that dissolve in water without a great deal of dissociation. Further ammonia is incredibly hydrophillic and a more appropriate equilibrium of the solution is represented as: $$\ce{NH4OH_{(aq)} <=> NH4+_{(aq)} + OH-_{(aq)}}$$

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  • $\begingroup$ That's a good point. There is definitely going to (essentially) always be a stabilizing hydrogen bond, i.e. it will exist short of as a complex between the two. $\endgroup$
    – SendersReagent
    Commented Mar 23, 2016 at 1:10
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    $\begingroup$ It definitely isn't more appropriate. $\endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    Commented Mar 23, 2016 at 22:44
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    $\begingroup$ So is the $\ce{NH_4OH}$ an actual molecule? $\endgroup$
    – Yunfei Ma
    Commented Mar 23, 2016 at 23:23

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