The shape of ammonia molecules is

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Chemistry - 2017 Subject: Chemistry

Question 1 Report

The shape of ammonia molecules is
Answer Details
The shape of ammonia (NH3) molecules is tetrahedral. The ammonia molecule has one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms. The nitrogen atom is at the center of the molecule, with the three hydrogen atoms arranged around it. The shape of the molecule is determined by the arrangement of the electrons in the outermost energy level of the nitrogen atom, which is called the valence shell. In the valence shell of the nitrogen atom, there are four pairs of electrons, one of which is a lone pair, while the other three are bonded to hydrogen atoms. These four pairs of electrons repel each other, and try to get as far away from each other as possible. This results in a tetrahedral arrangement of the atoms around the nitrogen atom. A tetrahedron is a three-dimensional shape with four triangular faces, and it looks like a pyramid with a triangular base. In the case of ammonia, the three hydrogen atoms form a triangular base, and the lone pair of electrons sits at the top of the pyramid, creating a tetrahedral shape. Therefore, the shape of ammonia molecules is tetrahedral.

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