🧪 Ammonium and Chloride  Components of a Common Salt

🔹 Ammonium (NH₄⁺)

• A positively charged ion (cation)
• Formed when ammonia (NH₃) accepts a proton (H⁺)
• Found in fertilizers, acids, and biological systems
• Common in ammonium salts, such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium chloride

🔹 Chloride (Cl⁻)

• A negatively charged ion (anion)
• Formed when chlorine (Cl₂) gains an electron
• Found in table salt (NaCl), body fluids, and industrial chemicals
• Important for maintaining electrolyte balance in the body

🧪 Ammonium + Chloride = Ammonium Chloride (NH₄Cl)

When ammonium (NH₄⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻) combine, they form ammonium chloride, a white, water-soluble crystalline salt.

🧰 Uses of Ammonium Chloride:

• Fertilizer: Provides nitrogen for plant growth
• Pharmaceuticals: Used in cough syrups as an expectorant
• Metalwork: Acts as a flux in soldering and galvanizing
• Food additive: Used as a flavor enhancer (E510)
• Chemical laboratories: Used in buffer solutions and reactions