Is NH4OH an acid or base?

Is NH4OH an acid or base?

Answer: The correct answer is that NH4OH (ammonium hydroxide) is a base.

NH4OH commonly called ammonium hydroxide or ammonia solution is a base or alkali. It is a weak base in water and thus breaks up into ammonium ions (NH4+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). Hydroxide ions are present in the solution and this is the reason why NH4OH is a basic solution. OH- ions can donate a proton to another substance and in this respect, it successfully behaves like a base according to the definition postulated by Brønsted and Lowry in 1923. Also, NH4OH can react with acids and evolve water and ammonium salts in the process. However, it should be noted that purely NH4OH as a chemical does not exist, while what is known as NH4OH is a solution of ammonia (NH3) in water, which forms an equilibrium to produce OH- ions. This aqueous solution is alkaline in nature and finds its use in several commercial and residential domains where the need for an alkali is fulfilled.