How do you determine the shape and bond angle of an ammonia molecule?

Firstly, how many electrons does nitrogen have in its outer shell?... Nitrogen is in group 5, so 5.How many more electrons does nitrogen need to give it a full outer shell?... 8 electrons provide a full outer shell, so it needs 3 more. Therefore each nitrogen atom makes one covalent bond with 3 hydrogen atoms.So what is the formula of ammonia?... NH3. 3 of the nitrogens 5 outer electrons are involved in covalent bonds with hydrogen atoms, so how many lone pairs are there?... There are 2 electrons left over in the outer shell so one lone pair.Therefore there are 3 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair, so what shape is the molecule?... Triangular pyramid.What is the bond angle?... There are four pairs of electrons so the initial bond angle is 109.5 degrees, however lone pairs decrease the angle by 2.5 degrees each. There is one lone pair so the bond angle is 109.5-2.5= 107 degrees.

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

State and explain the trend in melting points of diamond, iodine and hydrogen fluoride.


Regarding the first ionisation energies, why do the values shown on the graph go down from magnesium to aluminium and then rise again from aluminium to silicon


i)Give the Correct full electronic configuration for the Mg2+ ion, ii) and state why it is easier to form the 2+ state for Mg than Ben


Q3. A third beaker, C, contains 100.0 cm^3 of 0.0125 mol/dm^3 ethanoic acid ( Ka = 1.74 × 10^−5 mol/dm^3 at 25 ºC). Write an expression for Ka and use it to calculate the pH of the ethanoic acid solution in beaker C.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences