Question

What is the valency of ammonia and ammonium ion?

Answer 1

Valency :

• Valency is combining the capacity of an atom and it tells us how many electrons an atom needs to lose, gain or share to attain stability to form a compound.

Valency of ammonia and ammonium ion

• For ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$(Ammonia): Nitrogen has a 5 valence electron in its valence shell. For completing its octet it requires $3$ more electrons for stabilization. Hence its valency is $3$.
• For $\mathrm{NH}{}_4{}^{+}$(Ammonium ion): Nitrogen left its 1 electron unpaired, so for stabilization, it tends to lose one ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ ion, so its valency is (+1)