What is Protonation?
'''Protonation''' is the addition of a [[hydrogen]] [[ion]] to a substance. A hydrogen atom normally contains 1 [[proton]] and 1 [[electron]]. When the hydrogen atom is [[oxidation|oxidized]], it loses its electron, leaving a H<sup>+</sup>. The H<sup>+</sup> is the same as a proton. Substances are protonated when hydrogen ions are added to them. For example, when [[ammonia]] (NH<sub>3</sub>) is protonated, it forms [[ammonium]] ions, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>. A substance is protonated by a substance more [[acid|acidic]] than it. The acidic substance is [[deprotonation|deprotonated]]. ==Related pages== *[[Deprotonation]] *[[Proton]] *[[Hydrogen]] {{science-stub}} [[Category:Chemical reactions]]