How to predict the bond angle and shape of a molecule of NH3

An atom of nitrogen has 5 valence electrons in its outer shell. Each hydrogen atom in ammonia bonds to the central nitrogen atom and contributes an electron each. This means there are 8 electrons in total on the central nitrogen in ammonia. Each NH bond is a pair of electrons therefore the existence of 3 NH bonds in ammonia means that 6 of these 8 electrons are involved in bonding leaving a lone pair of electrons. These 3 bonding pairs and one lone pair of electrons arrange themselves are far apart as possible to minimise repulsion and so they arrange themselves in a tetrahedral. The angles between each bond is less that 109.5 because there is greater repulsion from the lone par - it pushes the bonds closer to one another.

DP
Answered by Daidria P. Chemistry tutor

5460 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

PharmaPlus, a drug developer, is required by law to carry out clinical trials on the novel drug ‘AccuPreasure’. AccuPreasure is to be marketed for control of high blood pressure. Give three questions that clinical trials are designed to answer.


What is an optical isomerism?


The equilibrium N2O4 (g) -->--< 2NO2 (g) is set up when N2O4 dissociates. When 0.0370 moles of N2O4 dissociates at 25 degrees in a 0.5dm3 sealed container, 0.0310 moles of N2O4 remains at equilibrium. Calculate the value of Kc for this reaction.


Carbon dioxide is a gas at room temperature while silicon dioxide is a solid at room temperature with a melting point of 1770°C. Explain this by comparing their particles and those forces between these particles.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning