NH3 Lewis structure

NH₃ (ammonia) has one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms.

In the NH₃ Lewis structure, there are three single bonds around the nitrogen atom, with three hydrogen atoms attached to it, and on the nitrogen atom, there is one lone pair.

Alternative method: Lewis structure of NH₃

Contents

Rough sketch

First, determine the total number of valence electrons

In the periodic table, nitrogen lies in group 15, and hydrogen lies in group 1.

Hence, nitrogen has five valence electrons and hydrogen has one valence electron.

Since NH₃ has one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms, so…

Valence electrons of one nitrogen atom = 5 × 1 = 5
Valence electrons of three hydrogen atoms = 1 × 3 = 3

And the total valence electrons = 5 + 3 = 8

Learn how to find: Nitrogen valence electrons and Hydrogen valence electrons

Second, find the total electron pairs

We have a total of 8 valence electrons. And when we divide this value by two, we get the value of total electron pairs.

Total electron pairs = total valence electrons ÷ 2

So the total electron pairs = 8 ÷ 2 = 4

Third, determine the central atom

Here hydrogen can not be the central atom. Because the central atom is bonded with at least two other atoms, and hydrogen has only one electron in its last shell, so it can not make more than one bond.

Hence, here we have to assume that the central atom is nitrogen.

Therefore, place nitrogen in the center and hydrogens on either side.

And finally, draw the rough sketch

Rough sketch of NH₃ Lewis structure | Image: Learnool

Lone pair

Here, we have a total of 4 electron pairs. And three N — H bonds are already marked. So we have to only mark the remaining one electron pair as a lone pair on the sketch.

Also remember that nitrogen is a period 2 element, so it can not keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell. And hydrogen is a period 1 element, so it can not keep more than 2 electrons in its last shell.

Always start to mark the lone pairs from outside atoms. Here, the outside atoms are hydrogens. But no need to mark on hydrogen, because each hydrogen has already two electrons.

So for nitrogen, there is one lone pair.

Mark the lone pair on the sketch as follows:

Lone pairs marked, and got the stable Lewis structure of NH₃ | Image: Learnool

Formal charge

Use the following formula to calculate the formal charges on atoms:

Formal charge = valence electrons – nonbonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons

For nitrogen atom, formal charge = 5 – 2 – ½ (6) = 0

For each hydrogen atom, formal charge = 1 – 0 – ½ (2) = 0

← Scroll horizontally to view all columns →

Atom	Valence electrons	Non-bonding electrons	Bonding electrons	Formal charge
Nitrogen	5	2	6	0
Hydrogen	1	0	2	0

Here, both nitrogen and hydrogen atoms do not have charges, so no need to mark the charges.

Final structure

The final structure of NH₃ displays a central nitrogen atom connected to three hydrogen atoms via single covalent bonds. Within this arrangement, the nitrogen atom successfully completes its octet by sharing three valence electrons and maintaining one lone pair, while each hydrogen atom reaches a stable duet. This configuration produces a trigonal pyramidal geometry where all atoms possess a formal charge of zero, ensuring maximum chemical stability. Because every atom achieves its ideal electron count, this specific distribution represents the stable and definitive Lewis representation of ammonia.

Next: HCN Lewis structure

External video

NH3 Lewis Structure – How to Draw the Dot Structure for NH3 (Ammonia) – YouTube • Wayne Breslyn

External links

Deep

Learnool.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.