Why Does NH3 Turn Into NH4+? Also Question About Bond EN.

• Insights Blog -- Browse All Articles -- Physics Articles Math Articles Education Articles Bio/Chem/Tech Articles
• Forums Chemistry Biology and Medical Earth Sciences Computer Science Computing and Technology DIY Projects
• Trending

Log in Register What's new

• Chemistry
• Biology and Medical
• Earth Sciences
• Computer Science
• Computing and Technology
• DIY Projects

Menu Log in Register Navigation More options Style variation System Light Dark Contact us Close Menu You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

• Forums
• Other Sciences
• Chemistry

Why does NH3 turn into NH4+? Also question about bond EN.

• Thread starter Thread starter Hammad Shahid
• Start date Start date Aug 31, 2018
• Tags Tags Bond

Click For Summary SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the transformation of ammonia (NH3) into ammonium (NH4+) and the factors influencing this process. It is established that NH3, while stable, can accept a proton (H+) to form NH4+, resulting in a tetrahedral geometry that is more stable than the trigonal pyramidal shape of NH3. Additionally, the conversation addresses the distinction between ionic and covalent bonds, emphasizing that a bond is considered ionic when the electronegativity difference exceeds a certain threshold, although specific values were not provided.

PREREQUISITES

• Understanding of molecular geometry, specifically trigonal pyramidal and tetrahedral shapes.
• Basic knowledge of acid-base chemistry, particularly proton transfer reactions.
• Familiarity with electronegativity and its role in bond classification.
• Concept of valence electrons and their role in bonding.

NEXT STEPS

• Research the concept of protonation and its effects on molecular stability.
• Study the principles of molecular geometry and hybridization in detail.
• Explore the electronegativity scale and its implications for bond types.
• Investigate the properties and reactions of ammonium compounds in aqueous solutions.

USEFUL FOR

Chemistry students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding molecular bonding and stability, particularly in the context of ammonia and ammonium compounds.

Hammad Shahid Messages 64 Reaction score 3 Hi guys. So I know that atoms bond to obtain stability / full octet. But my question is that NH3 is already stable and each N and H has a full octet. So why does ammonium form? I know that an H+ is attached so no e- are added, but why is there a need for this change? Same question for PH3 -> PH4+, and other such cations. Another question I have is that where do we draw a line between an ionic or covalent bond? Past what electronegativity difference is a bond considered ionic and why? Thanks you. I only have basic level understanding in chemistry so sorry if these questions are too simple. Chemistry news on Phys.org

• A semicrystalline catalyst balances activity and stability for electrolytic hydrogen production
• Organic crystals self-heal at cryogenic temperatures via zipping action
• Identifying where lithium ions reside in a new solid-state electrolyte that could lead to improved batteries

rootone Messages 3,398 Reaction score 945 Consider ammonia dissolved in water, it exists and is a cleaning product available in your local supermarket or similar. Technically it is ammonium hydroxide in that state, but still it is NH3 Hammad Shahid Messages 64 Reaction score 3

rootone said: Consider ammonia dissolved in water, it exists and is a product available in your local supermarket or similar. Technically it is ammonium hydroxide in that state, but still it is NH3

Hm ok so NH3 (aq) is NH4OH? Okay, so then NH4+ can’t exist as free ions though right? It will be NH3 and H+ in water technically? Hammad Shahid Messages 64 Reaction score 3 What I mean is that ammonium can form an ionic compound with other elements as long as it’s in water and then the solute precipitates, is that correct? Otherwise in water it’s as NH3 and H+? Cutter Ketch Messages 982 Reaction score 446 N with 5 valence electrons bonds with three H to complete the shell. However NH3 has a geometry problem. 3 of the 5 electrons are in covalent bonds with Hydrogen and two aren’t, there is no symmetric way to arrange these. The electrons in the bonds and the remaining two valence electrons all repel as much as possible. As a result the three bonds bend out of plane making something like a three legged stool and the other two electrons hang out more on top of the stool. It is this broken symmetry that allows a fourth bond. Despite the canonical 8 electrons the screening still can’t be symmetric. There is too much electron probability on top and that attracts another proton. Now with 4 H bonds the molecule can arrange in a perfectly symmetric tetrahedron. There is no concentration of electron probability anywhere, Hammad Shahid Messages 64 Reaction score 3 @Cutter Ketch Oh ok that makes a lot of sense. The proton stabilizes the polarity then. Also, does that mean that the trigonal pyramidal shape is less stable than tetrahedral in general? Cutter Ketch Messages 982 Reaction score 446

Hammad Shahid said: @Cutter Ketch Oh ok that makes a lot of sense. The proton stabilizes the polarity then. Also, does that mean that the trigonal pyramidal shape is less stable than tetrahedral in general?

Yes. Hammad Shahid Messages 64 Reaction score 3

Cutter Ketch said: Yes.

Thank you.

Similar threads

Question About Breaking Bonds in Crystal Lattices

• Jan 13, 2025 · Replies 5 · Jan 15, 2025

Replies 5 Views 2K Non polar molecule with polar bonds?

• Nov 8, 2022 · Replies 34 · Aug 8, 2023

2 Replies 34 Views 5K In coordinate bond, why doesn't the H^+ atom get a negative charge?

• Aug 19, 2018 · Replies 32 · Aug 22, 2018

2 Replies 32 Views 4K Why does C-C have a higher bond energy than B-N in hBN and graphene?

• Nov 14, 2022 · Replies 4 · Nov 14, 2022

Replies 4 Views 2K Polarity and solubility of AgCl

• Feb 25, 2018 · Replies 7 · Feb 26, 2018

Replies 7 Views 9K Chemical Bonds - various questions

• Jan 15, 2017 · Replies 3 · Jan 17, 2017

Replies 3 Views 2K Question about the bond MO's for diatomic early 2nd period elements

• Dec 13, 2019 · Replies 1 · Dec 13, 2019

Replies 1 Views 2K Where Does the Energy for Ionic Bonding Come From?

• Jul 17, 2018 · Replies 8 · Jul 18, 2018

Replies 8 Views 3K What does covalent bonding in salts actually look like?

• Sep 15, 2017 · Replies 2 · Sep 19, 2017

Replies 2 Views 3K High School Students: Chemistry, Ionic/Covalent Bonds, Urea & Hydroxyurea

• Oct 14, 2015 · Replies 3 · Oct 16, 2015

Replies 3 Views 2K

• Forums
• Other Sciences
• Chemistry

Hot Threads

• 

  A different periodic table to ponder

  • Started by DaveE
  • Dec 4, 2025
  • Replies: 16
  • Chemistry
• 

  How would you describe briefly your own mental modeling of chemistry?

  • Started by pellis
  • Jul 29, 2025
  • Replies: 69
  • Chemistry
• G

  How to make Sodium Chlorate by Electrolysis of salt water?

  • Started by gary350
  • Oct 18, 2025
  • Replies: 20
  • Chemistry
• 

  Molecular-level explanation of macroscopic phenomena: dissolving

  • Started by dextercioby
  • Nov 13, 2025
  • Replies: 5
  • Chemistry
• J

  Solubility of MgSO47H2O in water

  • Started by JT Smith
  • Aug 8, 2025
  • Replies: 34
  • Chemistry

Recent Insights

• 

  Insights Thinking Outside The Box Versus Knowing What’s In The Box

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Oct 13, 2025
  • Replies: 26
  • Other Physics Topics
• 

  Insights Why Entangled Photon-Polarization Qubits Violate Bell’s Inequality

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Sep 29, 2025
  • Replies: 28
  • Quantum Interpretations and Foundations
• 

  Insights Quantum Entanglement is a Kinematic Fact, not a Dynamical Effect

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Sep 2, 2025
  • Replies: 22
  • Quantum Physics
• 

  Insights What Exactly is Dirac’s Delta Function? - Insight

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Sep 2, 2025
  • Replies: 33
  • General Math
• 

  Insights Relativator (Circular Slide-Rule): Simulated with Desmos - Insight

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Sep 2, 2025
  • Replies: 1
  • Special and General Relativity
• P

  Insights Fixing Things Which Can Go Wrong With Complex Numbers

  • Started by PAllen
  • Jul 20, 2025
  • Replies: 7
  • General Math

Back Top