Question

How is ${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$ formed?

Answer 1

• ${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$ is the chemical formula of a positively charged polyatomic ion the ammonium cation. It is formed by the protonation of ammonia.
• When ammonia ${\mathrm{NH}}_3^{}$ molecule dissolves in water or reacts with an acid (ex: HCl), it behaves as a nucleophile or as a Brønsted–Lowry base by accepting a proton, $H_{}^{+}$, from a water molecule. So, the ammonium ion, ${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$, becomes positive.
• ${\mathrm{NH}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}^{+}\to {\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$

• In ammonia, nitrogen is the central atom with 5 electrons in its valence shell, 3 of which are shared with 3-H atoms, and 1 lone pair of electrons completes the valence shell configuration.