What is the molecular geometry of NH3?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the molecular geometry of the ammonia molecule (NH3), which refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of its atoms.
Answer
Trigonal pyramidal
The molecular geometry of NH3 (ammonia) is trigonal pyramidal.
Answer for screen readers
The molecular geometry of NH3 (ammonia) is trigonal pyramidal.
More Information
Ammonia (NH3) has a trigonal pyramidal shape due to the presence of three hydrogen atoms bonded to a central nitrogen atom, with one lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen causing a deviation from a perfect tetrahedral angle.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse the molecular geometry with the electron geometry. While the electron geometry of NH3 is tetrahedral, the lone pair causes the molecular geometry to be trigonal pyramidal.
Sources
- VSEPR Theory and Molecular Geometry - chem.libretexts.org
- Molecular Geometry - en.wikipedia.org
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