Two selected ammonium-based ionic liquids, 2-hydroxyethyltrimethylammonium L-(+)-lactate and tris(2-hydroxyethyl)methylammonium methylsulfate, were fully characterized. The most relevant thermophysical properties of pure fluids were measured and analyzed as a function of temperature. Structural features were inferred from solvatochromic and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies. Moisture absorption ability was also studied by gravimetric, spectroscopic, and Karl Fischer methods. Likewise, the water effect on fluids properties was analyzed. Polarity was studied by approaches based on solvatochromic measurements and on the water effect on FTIR spectra. Moreover, as computational work, quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics simulation methods were used to analyze the main molecular-level structural features in these fluids. The work is divided into two parts; in this first paper, the main objective is fully characterizing these ionic liquids in the pure state, and in the second paper CO2 absorption will be analyzed, therefore leading to a deep knowledge of factors controlling structuring, properties, and CO2 absorption for this family of ionic liquids in comparison with available information for other relevant types of ionic liquids.