Provide the following information for 𝑁𝐻4+.

Provide the following information for 𝑁𝐻4+.

a. electron geometry

b. molecular geometry

c. polarity

d. central atom hybridization

Answer: The correct answers are a, b, c and d.

The ammonium ion is another ionic compound with a cation that connects a nitrogen atom to four hydrogen atoms. They are both tetrahedral symmetrical; nitrogen is in the middle of the electron domain and the hydrogens are at the vertices of the tetrahedron. This arrangement comes from the four electron pairs around the nitrogen; 3 bonding pairs and one lone pair in the neutral ammonia molecule, but one of the lone pairs is involved in the bonding when forming ammonia ion. Attached is the picture of the water tetrahedral structure and as seen each hydrogen holds a positive charge hence the ion though ionic is non-polar. In this molecule, the nitrogen atom in the centre is sp3 hybridized, that’s why four equal sigma bonds are formed with the hydrogen atoms. Such hybridization makes it possible to have the tetrahedral arrangement thus leading to the stability and geometrical nature of the ion. The geometry of NH4+ is tetrahedral and therefore many of the aspects regarding its reactivity and roles in biology and chemistry can be understood from this perspective.