Ammonia vs the Ammonium Ion (NH3 vs NH4 +)

A brief explanation of the differences between Ammonia (NH3) and the Ammonium Ion (NH4+) including Lewis structures, molecular geometry, and bond angles. In comparing and contrasting Ammonia and the Ammonium ion: • Ammonia is a strong smelling substance. The Ammonium ion has no odor. • Both Ammonia and the Ammonium ion have eight valence electrons. • Ammonia has a trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry. This is because of the lone pair of electrons. • The Ammonium ion has a tetrahedral molecular geometry since it has four single bonds to the H atoms and no lone pairs. • Ammonia (NH3) is a single molecule. The Ammonium ion (NH4+) exists bonded to other atoms, like Cl in the compound NH4Cl, or surrounded by water molecules when dissolved in water. Resources for the Ammonia (NH3): Resources for the Ammonium Ion (NH4+): Other Resources: