What ion is most closely associated with bases? ammonium hydroxide carbonate hydrogen

## Step 1<br />In chemistry, a base is a substance that can accept hydrogen ions (protons) or, more generally, donate electron pairs. <br /><br />## Step 2<br />The hydroxide ion (OH-) is the ion most closely associated with bases. This is because when a base dissolves in water, it donates hydroxide ions.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The other options, ammonium, carbonate, and hydrogen, are not ions most closely associated with bases. Ammonium is a positively charged ion (NH4+), carbonate is a polyatomic ion (CO3^2-), and hydrogen is a neutral atom (H).