Question

please explain how to draw a structural formula for ammonia

Answer 1

Using VSEPR theory:
SO we know that the formula is NH3 right?
Then you look at the lewis dot diagram so the way it is drawn out is that N has 5 electrons making it possible to have 5 bonds.
The way the dot diagram is filled out we have 3 lone electrons and 1 pair electron.
So we use put the Hydrogens on the 3 hydrogens making the Nitrogen now a stable octet.
The way that the 3 hydrogens are placed should be in a trigonal planar.
I hope this makes sense if not send me another message and I can send you a picture

Answer 2

N has 7 electrons. There are 3 hydrogens so three bonding pairs. That leaves 2 electrons left over so thats a lone pair. The shape is trigonal bipyramidal or you can say the shape is based off the tetrahedral shape. Assume all lines are straight. And the two dots ontop are the lone pair. Hope this helped.