Why does ammonia accept a hydrogen to form ammonium when its octet is already complete as $\ce{NH3}$ and it should be, seemingly, stable as $\ce{NH3}$?
Asked
Active
Viewed 549 times
8
-
2It is the same reason why $\ce{H3O+}$ exists (formed by $\ce{H2O}$ accepting a $\ce{H+}$ from stronger acid). – Mathew Mahindaratne Apr 26 '18 at 05:52
-
8It is stable and happy as NH3. The problem is that H+ is very unhappy. – Ivan Neretin Apr 26 '18 at 06:00
1 Answers
8
"Hydrogen" means different things at different times. It can mean $\ce{H+}$, $\ce{H.}$, or $\ce{H2}$. (Not to mention deuterium and tritium!)
A bare proton ($\ce{H+}$) does not bring an electron to the filled octet on nitrogen, but attaches to the lone pair. The positive charge is now shared over 5 atoms, and the energy of formation of a new bond stabilizes the ammonium cation. The octet on nitrogen is still only an octet.
Interestingly, a hydrogen atom ($\ce{H.}$) can also attach to an ammonia molecule to form ammonium radical. Electrolysis of ammonium salts with a mercury cathode yields ammonium amalgam, which rapidly decomposes to $\ce{NH3}$ plus $\ce{H2}$. In this case, the extra electron in $\ce{NH4.}$ is also shared among the 5 atoms, and is more stable than when it is attached to just one proton. But not that much more stable, and the bond between two hydrogens is even stronger.
Gaurang Tandon
- 9,788
- 11
- 65
- 118
James Gaidis
- 14,011
- 2
- 26
- 56