NH4 is positively charged. Let me explain why.
I remember when I first learned about ions and cations in chemistry class. It was fascinating to discover how atoms can gain or lose electrons to form charged species. Cations, in particular, are positively charged because they have lost one or more electrons.
Now, let’s focus on NH4. NH4 is a polyatomic cation, which means it is a positively charged ion composed of multiple atoms. In this case, NH4 consists of one nitrogen atom (N) and four hydrogen atoms (H).
To understand why NH4 is positively charged, we need to look at the electron configuration of its constituent atoms. Nitrogen, with an atomic number of 7, typically has five valence electrons arranged in its electron shells. Hydrogen, on the other hand, has only one valence electron.
In NH4, nitrogen donates one of its valence electrons to each of the four hydrogen atoms, forming four nitrogen-hydrogen bonds. This process results in nitrogen having a full outer electron shell with eight electrons, satisfying the octet rule. However, nitrogen loses control over the electron it donated, leaving it with a positive charge.
To visualize this, imagine nitrogen sharing its lone pair of electrons with each hydrogen atom, forming a tetrahedral shape. Each hydrogen atom receives an additional electron, and as a result, they become positively charged.
So, NH4 is positively charged because nitrogen loses control over one of its valence electrons, leaving it with a positive charge. The four hydrogen atoms in NH4 also become positively charged as they receive an extra electron from nitrogen.
NH4 is a polyatomic cation with a positive charge. It is formed when nitrogen donates one of its valence electrons to each of the four hydrogen atoms. This electron transfer results in nitrogen carrying a positive charge and the hydrogen atoms becoming positively charged as well.