Welcome Guest Search | Active Topics |

Tag as favorite
Difference between ammonium and amino group
Options
Previous Topic Next Topic
Sabrina_5297
#1 Posted : Saturday, May 08, 2021 4:24:08 PM
Rank: Newbie

Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/21/2021
Posts: 3

Thanks: 0 times
Was thanked: 0 time(s) in 0 post(s)
In our Chemistry Lecture 1 it states that ammonium is NH4+, and in our BioBiochem Lecture 1 the NH3+ group in an amino acid is called an amino group.

Why are these molecules so different when their makeup is so similar? Is it because the NH3+ in the amino acid is bonded to a carbon, and the ammonium molecule isn't bonded to a carbon?
Back to top
Report?
Youssef_6546
#2 Posted : Sunday, May 09, 2021 12:34:49 AM
Rank: Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/28/2021
Posts: 15

Thanks: 0 times
Was thanked: 0 time(s) in 0 post(s)
Hi Sabrina,

Interesting question. From what I understand, NH4+ (ammonium) is an ion, cation to be exact, and forms ionic compounds with anions (e.g. Cl-, to make ammonium chloride (NH4Cl)). On the other hand, NH3+ (amino group) is a functional group like COO- (carboxyl). Functional groups are usually connected to a carbon to make an organic structure. I hope this helps!
Back to top
Report?
Anjali_5681
#3 Posted : Friday, May 14, 2021 4:25:09 PM
Rank: Administration

Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/3/2020
Posts: 42

Thanks: 0 times
Was thanked: 0 time(s) in 0 post(s)
Thanks for the peer assist, Youssef!

This is one of those nomenclature things. Ammonium is NH4+, and it stands alone as a cation, capable of binding to anions (as Youssef mentioned). Amino however, refers to an amino group within a compound. Amino refers to the R-NH2 and R-NH3+ group (with R being any group) that we can find in ie. amino acids.

NH3 on its own is ammonia. In organic compounds, amines refers to anything with a nitrogen, essentially (can be primary, secondary, tertiary).

Hope that helps! :)
Back to top
Report?
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Tag as favorite
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Clean Slate theme by Jaben Cargman (Tiny Gecko)
Powered by YAF | YAF © 2003-2009, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.085 seconds.