ammonium hydroxide

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a basic compound, NH 4 OH, existing only in solution, formed by dissolving ammonia gas in water.

---

ammonium hydroxide British  

noun

1. Also called: aqueous ammonia.  a compound existing only in aqueous solution, formed when ammonia dissolves in water to form ammonium ions and hydroxide ions. Formula: NH 4 OH

---

ammonium hydroxide Scientific  

1. A colorless, basic, aqueous solution of ammonia used as a household cleanser and in the manufacture of a wide variety of products, including textiles, rayon, rubber, fertilizer, and plastic. Chemical formula: NH ₄ OH.

---

Etymology

Origin of ammonium hydroxide

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

BPI makes its product by spinning discarded beef scraps in a centrifuge to separate the lean, edible trimmings and then treating the result with ammonium hydroxide meant to kill food-borne pathogens like E. coli.

From Time • Aug. 26, 2014

BPI relies on a different technology than Cargill and uses ammonium hydroxide, rather than citric acid, as a processing agent to kill potential pathogens.

From Reuters • Nov. 5, 2013

The swift response also reflected a desire to avoid a repeat of the pink slime scare, which erupted when consumers learned some ground meat contained scraps of beef treated with ammonium hydroxide.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2012

Pink slime is the nickname for the beef product made out of scraps gathered from the slaughterhouse floor then mushed up and treated with ammonium hydroxide to kill e. coli and salmonella.

From Forbes • Feb. 17, 2012

PROCEDURE.—To the filtrate from the insoluble residue add ammonium hydroxide until the solution just smells distinctly of ammonia, but do not add an excess.

From An Introductory Course of Quantitative Chemical Analysis With Explanatory Notes by Talbot, Henry P.