could someone explain what makes ammonia polar?
2007-01-18 14:43:22 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The Lewis structure diagram makes this easy to see.
In ammonia, NH3, Nitrogen is the central atom and has shared bonds with each of three hydrogen atoms. But nitrogen also has one unshared pair of electrons left over. This extra pair of electrons create the polarity of ammonia.
2007-01-18 14:47:41 · answer #1 · answered by reb1240 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be symmetrical, if it weren't for the lone electron pair on the Nitrogen, which needs more room than the Hydrogen bonds, so it makes them squish together more, and makes the NH3 polar.
2007-01-18 14:56:07 · answer #2 · answered by dbybell 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Trigonal bipyramidal geometry with the polarity going towards the two lone pair electrons on the nitrogen (negative end).
2007-01-18 14:48:55 · answer #3 · answered by Jeff 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nitrogen has a lone pair of electrons on it making it have a slight negative charge. It is also more electronegative than Hydrogen so the Hydrogen side carries a slight positive chage.
Here is an electrostatic potential map:
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/images/210ammonia.gif
2007-01-18 14:49:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NH3 has an unshared pair of electrons
sort of a pyramidal shape with the N in the very center and the top cut off...
2007-01-18 15:00:14 · answer #5 · answered by Dr W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is non polar
2016-05-24 05:39:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋