How many single covalent bonds can nitrogen form?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 1, 2016

There are #4# such bonds in the ammonium ion, #NH_4^+#

Explanation:

Neutral ammonia has #3# #xx# #N-H# bonds, and also has a nitrogen-centred lone pair. This lone pair can form a donative bond to hydrogen,for instance:

#NH_3(aq) + H_2O rarr NH_4^+ + HO^-#.

Quaternary ammonium salts, #NR_4^+#, are also known. In both instances, there are 6 electrons formally associated with the nitrogen centre rather than 7, and thus it bears a formal positive charge in the representation.

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