2.5.1

Nitrogen & Ammonia

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Nitrogen & Ammonia

Nitrogen is an inert atmospheric gas. Ammonia is a basic nitrogenous compound with a variety of uses.

Illustrative background for NitrogenIllustrative background for Nitrogen ?? "content

Nitrogen

  • Nitrogen is a diatomic gas formed from two nitrogen atoms held together by a triple covalent bond.
  • The triple bond is very strong and difficult to break.
    • So, nitrogen is very unreactive (inert).
Illustrative background for Ammonia and ammoniumIllustrative background for Ammonia and ammonium ?? "content

Ammonia and ammonium

  • Ammonia (NH3 is a pyramidal compound with a lone pair of electrons.
  • The lone pair of electrons give ammonia basic properties.
    • Ammonia can act as a base and use its lone pair of electrons to accept a proton.
  • This how the ammonium ion (NH4+) is formed.
  • The type for covalent bond formed in this reaction is called a coordinate bond.
Illustrative background for Ammonium saltsIllustrative background for Ammonium salts ?? "content

Ammonium salts

  • Ammonia is only a weak base. So, even though NH3 can accept an H+ ion, the H+ ion can be easily lost.
  • This can be represented by the following ionic equation:
    • NH3 + OH- ⇌ NH4+ + H2O
  • NH3 & NH4+ are called conjugate pairs.
  • So, when ammonium salts react with a base ammonia gas is evolved. For example:
    • NH4Cl + NaOH → NH3 + NaCl + H2O

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

1.1Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.2Atomic Structure

1.3Chemical Bonding

1.4States of Matter

1.5Chemical Energetics

1.6Electrochemistry

1.7Equilibria

1.8Partition Coefficient

1.9Reaction Kinetics

2Inorganic Chemistry

3Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.2Hydrocarbons

3.3Halogen Derivatives

3.4Hydroxy Compounds

3.5Carbonyl Compounds

3.6Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.7Nitrogen Compounds

3.8Polymerisation

3.9Analytical Techniques

3.10Organic Synthesis

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