Valence electrons arrangement in the form of line and dots is known as lewis structure or electron dot structure. Take a look on NH4Cl lewis structure below.
NH4Cl lewis structure contains total three elements nitrogen, hydrogen and chlorine. It is the combination of all non – metals (N, H and Cl). It is composed of two ions NH4+ and Cl-. NH4 ion has a positive charge on it as it loss one electron to chlorine atom.
Cl- ion has negative charge as it accepts 1 electron from NH4+ ion. In NH4+ ion N and H bonded by single covalent bonds. NH4+ and Cl- ions can form ionic bond. The Cl- ions is put in square bracket due to (-1) charge on it. NH4+ the charge (+1) is on N atom so it is not in bracket. Let us discuss on NH4Cl lewis structure, characteristics and various facts.
How to draw NH4Cl lewis structure?
Lewis structure drawing has some rules or steps to draw. Here we are discussing the steps to draw NH4Cl lewis structure below.
Valence electrons:
NH4Cl lewis structure valence electrons should be counted. By doing summation of the valence electrons of each atom present in the molecule. It has positive charge on NH4 ion due to loss of 1 valence electron to Cl ion thus creates negative charge on it.
Bonding, lone pairs and octet rule:
Make bonding within all atoms by putting valence electrons. Left over valence electrons are being unshared electrons which are lone electrons pairs of NH4Cl. Lone pair electrons are present only on Cl- ions. Check whether the entire N, H and Cl atoms has complete or incomplete octets by applying octet rule.
Formal charge and shape:
Formal charge present on NH4Cl lewis structure should be calculated with the given formula. Afterwards foresee the shape, hybridization and bond angle of NH4Cl lewis structure.
NH4Cl valence electrons
The number of electrons present on outermost valence shell of an atom of element is known to be valence electrons. A brief look on NH4Cl valence electrons is below.
NH4Cl lewis structure has total 16 electrons present on it. N atom has 5 electrons as it belongs to 15th periodic table group. Hydrogen belongs to 1st periodic table group thus have 1 valence electron. Rather chlorine belongs to 17th periodic table group and having 7 valence electrons.
NH4Cl lewis structure valence electrons step by step evaluation is given below.
- Valence electrons in NH4 (valence electron of N + valence electron of H) = 5 (N) + 1 x 4 (H) = 09
- Deduct one valence electron from NH4 valence electron due to +1 charge or loss of electron on NH4+ ion = 09 – 01 = 08
- Total valence electrons on NH4+ ion = 08
- Valence electrons on Cl atom (add 1 electron for -1 charge or gain of electron) = 07 + 01 = 08
- Sum valence electrons of NH4+ and Cl- ion = 08 (NH4+) + 08 (Cl-) = 16.
- Therefore, total valence electrons on ammonium chloride NH4Cl lewis structure is sixteen.
NH4Cl lewis structure lone pairs
Non – bonding electrons present on atoms of any molecule is the when get paired is known as lone pair electrons. Below is the discussion on NH4Cl lone pair electrons.
NH4Cl lewis structure contains 4 lone pair electrons. It has total 16 valence electrons and 8 non – bonding electrons. Thus, these eight non – bonding electrons get paired and form four lone pair electrons on NH4Cl.
These 4 lone pair electrons of NH4Cl are only present on Cl- ion. The NH4+ ion does not have any lone pair electron as it has all bonding electrons forming N-H bond and one electron is already donated to Cl- ion.
NH4Cl lewis structure octet rule
The stable is compound or molecule if it has eight electrons in its valence shell tells the octet rule. We have some deep discussion on NH4Cl lewis structure octet rule.
In NH4Cl, NH4+ and Cl- ions have complete octets. Both of them are surrounded with eight – eight electrons. NH4+ ion has eight bonding electrons as they form four N-H single covalent bonds within nitrogen and hydrogen atom. Cl- ion has eight non – bonding electrons around it.
NH4Cl lewis structure formal charge
Positive or negative charge on the atom or ions or molecules of any compound is known as formal charge. Let us have discussion on calculative part of NH4Cl formal charge.
Formal charge of NH4Cl lewis structure is = (valence electrons – non-bonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons)
Using above formula we have to calculate the formal charge of NH4Cl lewis structure.
| Atoms of NH4Cl lewis structure | Valence electrons on N, H and Cl | Non – bonding electrons on N, H and Cl | Bonding electrons on N, H and Cl | Formal charge on N, H and Cl |
| Nitrogen atom (N) | 05 | 00 | 08 | ( 5 – 0 – 8 / 2 ) = +1 |
| Hydrogen atoms (H) | 01 | 00 | 02 | ( 1 – 0 – 2 / 2 ) = 0 |
| Chlorine atom (Cl) | 07 | 08 | 00 | ( 7 – 8 – 0 / 2 ) = – 1 |
NH4Cl lewis structure resonance
Several form of structure has similar atomic position but different bond position of same compound is the resonance structure. Look a brief on NH4Cl resonance structure.
NH4Cl lewis structure cannot form resonance structure. It is an ionic compound and not forms covalent bonds between NH4+ and Cl- ions. Also it does not come under the rules to draw resonance structure due to lack of multiple bonds and movement of electrons to form multiple bonds.
NH4Cl lewis structure shape
Atomic arrangement in a particular way forming a particular geometry and shape of molecule is known as molecular shape. Take a look on NH4Cl lewis structure shape.
The shape of NH4Cl structure has crystalline shape as body centred cubic structure. It does not show any molecular shape as per VSEPR theory. But the NH4+ ion of NH4Cl lewis structure follows VSEPR theory and shows tetrahedral shape.
NH4Cl lewis structure angle
The angle between two simultaneous bonds in a structure of any molecule is known as bond angle. Let us have a brief look on NH4Cl lewis structure bond angle.
NH4Cl lewis structure can show two bond angles:
- 900 bond angle in its body centred cubic crystal structure.
- 109.50 degree bond angle for tetrahedral geometry of NH4+.
NH4Cl hybridization
Atomic orbitals when get mixed and recast it forms a new hybrid orbital with equivalent energy is known as hybridization. Here is a brief look on NH4Cl hybridization.
NH4Cl lewis structure shows sp3 hybridization. It is an ionic compound and consists of NH4+ and Cl- ions. The NH4+ ion shows tetrahedral molecular shape and geometry due to which the N atom shows sp3 hybridization in it. 1‘s’ orbital of H and 3 ‘p’ orbital of N overlaps to form sp3 hybrid orbitals.
Is NH4Cl a solid?
The material has very closely or tightly packed atoms which are very hard to breakdown are solid compounds. Let us discuss that NH4Cl is solid or not.
NH4Cl is a crystalline solid compound. It has closely packed ions attached with each other in a body centred cubic form of its crystal lattice. There is a strong electrostatic force of attraction between NH4+ and Cl- ions. Due to which they get held together with strong ionic bond.
How NH4Cl is solid?
Crystalline solids have specific arrangements according to its bonding. See below how NH4Cl is solid.
NH4Cl is a solid compound, due to its body centred cubic (BCC) structure. In NH4Cl BCC structure, NH4+ ion is placed at centre of a cube surrounded with 8 Cl- around it. Central NH4+ ion bonded to 4 Cl- ion. Each atom of BCC structure joined with 4 other atom.
Is NH4Cl soluble in water?
The maximum capacity of a solute to dissolve into a solvent (water) at specific temperature is known as solubility. Let us discuss on NH4Cl solubility in water.
NH4Cl gets completely soluble in water. It can easily dissociates or ionizes into NH4+ and Cl – ion in water solution when react with water. NH4Cl is a salt and all salts are easily dissolved in water. Due to the dissociation reaction occurs between NH4Cl and water.
Why NH4Cl soluble in water?
Solubility depends on the dissociation of solute particles. Take a look on why NH4Cl soluble in water.
NH4Cl is completely soluble in water. Because when NH4Cl added to water there is the separation of NH4+ and Cl-ions due to its ionization. These NH4+ and Cl- ions get attached with water molecules opposite charged ions.
How NH4Cl is soluble in water?
Solubility depends on the attachment of opposite ions to water molecule.
The NH4+ ion get attached with OH- ions and forms NH4OH into water. On the other hand, Cl- ions get attached with H+ ions and forms HCl molecules into water solution. NH4Cl being ionisable and able to bonded with opposite charge water molecules show its capacity to soluble in water.
The reaction of NH4Cl with water produce, NH4OH as well as HCl which denotes NH4Cl + H2O → NH4OH + HCl.
Is NH4Cl polar or nonpolar?
The compounds containing two electrical dipoles with partial positive or negative charges are the polar compounds. Below is the description on NH4Cl polarity.
NH4Cl is a polar compound. There is a huge electronegativity difference between the nitrogen and hydrogen atoms of NH4+ ions. Due to which the dipoles get created in the NH4Cl molecules. Also it has asymmetrical atomic arrangement in its structure making the NH4Cl a polar molecule.
Why NH4Cl is polar?
Polar compounds react with the other polar compounds only. Here, we are discussing on why NH4Cl is polar in nature.
NH4Cl is polar in nature. Due to the nitrogen atom have high electronegativity than hydrogen atom in the NH4+ ion of NH4Cl molecule. The electronegativity difference value of hydrogen and nitrogen is 0.83 which is more than 0.5 value suggested by Pauling’s rule.
How NH4Cl is polar?
Hereafter we will know how NH4Cl is a polar compound.
NH4+ ion has unequal distribution of electrons on H and N atoms. The electron density pulls towards the nitrogen atom. Hence, the partial positive charge develops on hydrogen atom and partial negative charge develops on nitrogen atom of NH4+ ion. Thus, NH4Cl shows polar nature due to presence polar NH+ ion.
Is NH4Cl a molecular compound?
The compound consists of small molecules which are covalently bonded to each other are known as molecular or covalent compound. Let us discuss on NH4Cl molecular or not.
NH4Cl is not molecular as it is ionic in nature. It can ionise into two different ions NH4+ and OH- ions which shows its ionic nature. There is no presence of covalently bonded small molecules in its structure. Also its molecular formula does not represent number of molecules in it.
Why NH4Cl is ionic?
The compounds containing ions which have some charge on it are ionic compounds. Below is the description on NH4Cl ionic nature.
NH4Cl is an ionic salt. Due to it has the ability to get ionises as NH4+ and Cl- ions. These NH4+ and Cl- ions get linked with one another by electrostatic force of attraction which is strong ionic bond. Due to these strong ionic bonds the NH4+ and Cl- ions held together tightly.
How NH4Cl is ionic?
Ionic nature of NH4Cl is given below showing how it works.
The NH4+ ion has covalent bonds between N and H atoms forming N-H bonds. But the NH4+ and Cl- is not connected with covalent bond in it. NH4Cl contains both covalent bonds (in NH+ ion) and ionic bonds (in NH+ and Cl- ions). Thus, NH4Cl consider as ionic but not covalent or molecular.
Is NH4Cl an acid or base?
Compounds which donates or loss protons are acids and compounds which accept or gain proton are bases. Let us discuss on NH4Cl acidic or basic nature.
NH4Cl is an acidic salt in nature. The pH value of NH4Cl is 5.35. It is produced as a salt by the acid – base reaction between very weak base ammonia (NH3) and strong acid (HCl). NH4Cl is also produced as a by – product of sodium carbonate formation Solvary reaction.
Is NH4Cl an electrolyte?
The compounds which are ionisable when added to water and conduct electricity are known as electrolytes. Look a brief discussion on NH4Cl electrolytic behaviour.
NH4Cl can act as electrolyte. As it has the capacity to form ions in water. If we added some amount of NH4Cl into water solution, it gets completely dissociated into water as NH+ and Cl- ions. Thus these NH4+ and Cl- ions can move freely in electrolytic solution.
On application of external field on this NH4Cl and H2O electrolytic solution, the ions starts to move in the solution and starts to conduct electricity in that solution. Thus, NH4Cl shows electrolytic behaviour.
Is NH4Cl a salt?
The species which get produced due to the reaction within acids and bases are known to be salts. Let us discuss that NH4Cl is a salt or not.
NH4Cl is basically a salt. Rather it is a crystalline acidic salt. It is produced due to acid – base reaction between HCl which is a strong acid and NH3 which is a weak base. Due to presence of strong acid HCl, NH4Cl is being an acidic salt. So, NH4Cl is considered as a salt.
Why NH4Cl is a salt?
Ionic compounds are generally behaves as a colourless crystalline salts. Let us explore below.
NH4Cl is an acidic salt. As NH4Cl has ionic nature. It shows all properties of salts like NH4Cl get dissolves in water and it can dissociates into ions. Salts are product of acid and base reaction, thus NH4Cl is also a product on acid base reaction of NH3 and HCl.
How NH4Cl is a salt?
The nature of NH4Cl salt, how it works is discussed below.
NH4Cl salt contains ammonium (NH4+) cation in its structure or molecule. Salts are generally contains a metal cations or they can generate from NH4+ (ammonium) cation. Thus, all NH4Cl characteristics show the properties of salts and come under salt category.
The reaction of NH3 and HCl is forming NH4Cl salt which denotes NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl.
Conclusion:
NH4Cl lewis structure has sixteen valence electrons. It has 8 lone pair electrons in its structure. Both NH4+ and Cl- ions are bonded with strong ionic bond and has complete octets. N atom of NH4+ ion has +1 formal charge and Cl ion has -1 formal charge. It is solid, ionic, polar, acidic salt, soluble in water and electrolyte in nature.
Also Read:
- Coh2 lewis structure
- Seo2 lewis structure
- Ni3 lewis structure
- Cah2 lewis structure
- Clf lewis structure
- Nh2oh lewis structure
- Brcl5 lewis structure
- Xef2 lewis structure
- Ch3nh2 lewis structure
- Bi3 lewis structure
Hello everyone, I am Dr. Shruti M Ramteke, I did my Ph.D. in chemistry. I am passionate about writing and like to share my knowledge with others . Feel free to contact me on linkedin