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Chemistry 16 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

If an atom of nitrogen binds with three hydrogen atoms to form a molecule of ammonia, how many lone pairs of electrons does nitrogen have?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

@Abmon98

OpenStudy (anonymous):

@Somy

OpenStudy (anonymous):

i thinks its 4

OpenStudy (abmon98):

look at the electronic configuration of nitrogen which is 2,5

OpenStudy (somy):

NH3

OpenStudy (anonymous):

so its 3

OpenStudy (somy):

no no

OpenStudy (somy):

look how many electrons are there in N's last shell?

OpenStudy (somy):

@pinal145

OpenStudy (abmon98):

only the outermost shell of the element is involved in bonding

OpenStudy (anonymous):

i dont know what you mean by the last shell

OpenStudy (abmon98):

OpenStudy (anonymous):

so its 5

OpenStudy (somy):

yes and how many are involved in bonding with H atoms?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

2

OpenStudy (abmon98):

the shell which contains 2 electrons is stable (not involved in bonding) only the shell which carries 5 electrons are involved. Ammonia, Nitrogen Bonded to 3 other hydrogens so were left with 2 electrons(not involved in bonding)

OpenStudy (somy):

so answer is 1 lone pair

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