Firstly, this question is about ammonium salts in general and not ammonium hydroxide.

Secondly,

We do not mention or write ammonium hydroxide as a formula unit or compound as a whole (unlike some other readers or 'non-tutors' do) because :

Any 'ammonium hydroxide' formed is highly unstable and would quickly dissociate to yield ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH-)

Ammonium hydroxide cannot be isolated.

See the links below:

https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/48373/ammonium-hydroxide-name

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ed030p511

https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=vv7KBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA224&lpg=PA224&dq=ammonium+hydroxide+cannot+be+isolated&source=bl&ots=OCIzIrZdE_&sig=ACfU3U0Bxu36wUysGTh3ZWT5XIf6sD4p6Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi4qoDm6sPzAhW-6nMBHdSDDyMQ6AF6BAgrEAI#v=onepage&q=ammonium%20hydroxide%20cannot%20be%20isolated&f=false



If ammonia gas is dissolved in water, the equation (with state symbols) should look like this :

NH₃ (g) + H₂O (l) → NH₄⁺ (aq) + OH⁻ (aq)

And not

NH₃ (g) + H₂O (l) → NH₄OH (aq)



Same idea goes for 'carbonic acid' (when you react a carbonate salt with an acid)

So, for ammonium salts (which are very soluble in water and exist as the separate ions) in alkaline conditions,

For example : adding ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) to aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

ionic :
NH₄⁺ (aq) + OH⁻ (aq) → NH₃(g) + H₂O (l)

Full equation :

NH₄NO₃ (s) + NaOH (aq) →NaNO₃ (aq) + NH₃(g) + H₂O (l)


The Na⁺ ions and NO₃⁻ ions remain in solution.

Ammonia gas is evolved and the solution now has more water than before.

The equation is certainly not two steps (unlike how some other less qualified people describe it)

NH₄⁺ (aq) → NH₃ (g) + H⁺ (aq)

H⁺ (aq) + OH⁻ (aq) → H₂O (l)

Hi J! You like pro in chem. I had a J 2 chemistry qn posted2d. No Sol. Can help. I read your profile. Look OK

Thanks for the compliments.

I'll see what I can do.

Most importantly, be wary of those 'non-tutors ' or 'readers' who just copy and paste info and diagrams from unreliable sites. They are very often erroneous.

This 1 just a simple o qn. I also can answer in simple way. U spend time help me bet

I don't care anyway. There r so many sol make me blur

U can spend time explaining simple staff with cplx theory. Your St also won't rd 1. Then now you reluctant to h!!!

Check your other question, the diagram has been posted.

That's the thing about 'simple concepts'

Because people think it's simple or they oversimplify it, misconceptions occur.

Furthermore, at O levels (and even A levels) , there are lots of assumptions made when things are taught.

Some of these do not always hold true when you actually start research.

The theory behind these concepts was the result of years of research, discourse and peer-reviewing. Refinements are still occurring up up this day.

At the molecular level, it is far more complex.