If an atom of nitrogen binds with three hydrogen atoms to form a molecule of ammonia, how many lone pairs of electrons does nitrogen have?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 7, 2016

The nitrogen atom in ammonia has a formal lone pair of electrons.

Explanation:

There are 4 electron pairs around the nitrogen atom: 3xxN-H bonds, and one nitrogen-centred lone pair. The lone pair is stereochemically active (and hence NH_3 is a trigonal pyramid, but tetrahedral with respect to its ELECTRONIC geometry), and we conceive that the lone pair can bind to H^+ or C to form a quaternary nitrogen centre, i.e. an ammoniium salt.

NH_3(aq) + H_2O(l) rarr NH_4^+ + HO^-

Given 2 inner core electrons, and a half share of the 8 electrons that compose the 4xxN-H bonds, the nitrogen has 6 electrons associated with the atom rather than 7, and thus a representation as a formal cation, i.e. quaternized nitrogen.

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