What is the bond angle for NH3?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the bond angle in ammonia (NH3), which is determined by the molecular geometry around the nitrogen atom. Ammonia has a trigonal pyramidal shape due to the presence of a lone pair of electrons on nitrogen, resulting in bond angles that can be approximated using VSEPR theory.
Answer
107 degrees
The bond angle in NH3 is approximately 107 degrees.
Answer for screen readers
The bond angle in NH3 is approximately 107 degrees.
More Information
The bond angle in ammonia (NH3) is slightly less than the ideal tetrahedral angle of 109.5 degrees due to the presence of a lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom, which exerts greater repulsion on the bonding pairs of electrons.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume the bond angle is the perfect tetrahedral angle of 109.5 degrees, without considering the effect of lone pairs.
Sources
- Bond Angles in Ammonia - Chemistry LibreTexts - chem.libretexts.org
