In the compound ammonia (NH3), how many hydrogen atoms are bonded to each nitrogen atom?
- A 1
- B 2
- C 3
- D 4
In the compound ammonia (NH3), each nitrogen atom is bonded to three hydrogen atoms. This forms a trigonal pyramidal molecular structure, with the nitrogen atom at the apex and the three hydrogen atoms bonded to it at the base. The bonding between nitrogen and hydrogen in ammonia is an example of polar covalent bonding, where the electrons are shared unequally between the atoms due to the difference in their electronegativities. This results in a partial negative charge on the nitrogen atom and partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms, creating a polar molecule with a dipole moment. Ammonia is an important compound in various industrial, agricultural, and biological processes, and its synthesis via the Haber-Bosch process is a significant achievement in industrial chemistry.