Question

Which of the following species cannot act as an electron pair donor for the formation of dative bond?

• A. H${}_3$I${}^{+}$
• B. NH${}_4^{+}$
• C. OH${}^{-}$
• D. NH${}_3$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

NH${}_4^{+}$

In a dative bond, the shared pair of electrons come from the same atom. In $N{H}_4^{+}$ all the 4 valence electrons of N are bonded to the hydrogen atoms, thus it cannot act as an electron pair donor for the formation of dative bond.