Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
tetramethylammonium

tetramethylammonium

1 9.9
A small positively charged particle with a nitrogen atom bonded to four methyl groups
  • noun
  • /ˌtɛtrəˌmɛθəlˈæməˌniəm/
  • Specialized
: tetrametilamonio
  • Researchers studied the effects of tetramethylammonium on nerve cell activity.

Examples

  • A solution containing tetramethylammonium was prepared to analyze its chemical properties.

  • The compound tetramethylammonium is commonly used in organic synthesis.

  • The laboratory ordered tetramethylammonium for use in organic synthesis experiments.

  • Did you know that tetramethylammonium can act as a phase transfer catalyst?

  • In our experiment, we added tetramethylammonium chloride to enhance the reaction rate.

  • Researchers often use tetramethylammonium ions to study their effects on cell membranes.

  • The synthesis involved treating the substrates with tetramethylammonium hydroxide to promote the desired chemical reaction.

Surface Forms

tetramethylammonium singular
tetramethylammoniums plural

Morphology

tetramethylammonium = ammonium (opaque) = tetramethyl + ammonium

The formation 'tetramethyl-' follows regular chemical naming (four methyl groups attached) but understanding it requires knowledge of Greek numeric prefixes and chemical nomenclature.

Etymology

Tetramethylammonium breaks into three parts: tetra- meaning 'four', methyl meaning a small 'group of atoms' built around one carbon, and ammonium meaning a 'nitrogen ion'. So tetramethylammonium is a nitrogen ion with four methyl groups attached.