Quaternary ammonium cation

A quaternary ammonium cation is a type of ion related to ammonium. The name "quaternary" means that all four of the hydrogen atoms in ammonium have been replaced by something else, usually a carbon atom from an organic functional group.

Unlike normal ammonium, quaternary ammonium cations do not react with most bases, because they have no acidic hydrogen atom to lose. They stay as ions no matter what the pH of their solution is.

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