NH3Cl+ Lewis Structure & Characteristics (13 Complete Facts)

NH3Cl+can be called as protonated chloramine, is a gas phase intermediate formed when chloramine, NH2Cl reacts with a proton donating species. Let us discuss more facts below.

NH3Cl+ is a protonated species with a molecular weight of 52.491 g/mol. The species needs to be trapped in inert atmosphere due to its low lifetime. It bears a net electric charge of 1 making it soluble in polar solvents. It can form partial positive and negative ends on the molecule.

Gas phase intermediate are important in chemistry as it plays important role in kinetics. Let us learn how to draw NH3Cl+ lewis structure, calculate valence electrons and angle.

How to draw NH3Cl+ lewis structure?

Lewis structure is an electronic description of the skeletal structure of a molecule that accounts for the valence electrons to represent. Let us discuss below.

Counting total available valence electrons

The valence electrons in the outermost shells of N, H and Cl are taken for constructing NH3Cl+ lewis structure. The outer shell electronic configuration of N, H and Cl are 2s22p3, 1s1 and 3s23p5.  Three H atoms give 3 valence electrons. Cl gives 7 and N gives 5 valence electrons from 2s, 2p, 3s and 3p.

Hence, a total of 15 valence electrons are available for drawing NH3Cl+ lewis structure. But the positive charge deducts one electron from 15 so 14 valence electrons are available.

Assigning the central atom

N is chosen as the central atom despite H having least electronegativity. This is because the atom must have low electronegativity as well as greater covalency to form more bonds. N has a covalency of 4 while H has only 1. Hence, N can form at least 4 bonds by donating its valence electrons.

Electronegativity of N, H and Cl are 3.04, 2.2 and 3.16. N is more electronegative than H but less than Cl.

Forming bonding pairs following octet rule

Two electrons are assigned between central atom and any one of the four atoms. So, it forms 4 bonding pairs. This takes up 8 valence electrons from a total of 14. Octet is fulfilled for all the atoms. All are single bonding pairs of electrons.

Assigning lone pairs of electrons

The remaining 6 valence electrons are assigned on Cl atom as lone pairs of electrons. This completes the octet of Cl thus following octet rule. The lone pairs stays localized on Cl.

nh3cl-lewis-structure
Stepwise drawing of NH3Cl+ lewis structure

NH3Cl+ lewis structure shape

Shape of a molecule is the structure adopted on the basis of bonding electron pairs and determines the overall spatial arrangement. Let us discuss below.

The shape of NH3Cl+ lewis structure is tetrahedral in nature. N has no lone pairs of electrons. It has four bonding pairs connected to it. The four bonding pairs are arranged tetrahedrally to avoid repulsion among them. The non-bonding pairs of electrons on Cl does not contribute to the overall shape of NH3Cl+.

NH3Cl+ lewis structure formal charge

Formal charge represents the theoretical charge present in all atoms of a molecule considering electron distribution is equally done. Let us discuss more facts below.

Formal charge of NH3Cl+ is +1 which has been calculated using the mathematical formula ‘Formal charge = (Number of valence electrons in a free atom of the element) – (Number of unshared electrons on the atom) – (Number of bonds to the atom)’.

  • Formal charge of N = 5-0-4 = +1
  • Formal charge of all the equivalent H atoms = 1-0-1 = 0
  • Formal charge of Cl = 7-6-1 = 0
  • NH3Cl+ is not neutral molecule as it has plus one positive charge.
  • Formal charge is not always equal to net electric charge.
  • In this case, formal charge = Net electric charge.

NH3Cl+ lewis structure angle

Bond angle is the angle formed between bonding pairs of electrons or orbitals of the central atom and two adjacent atoms. Let us discuss in details below.

The bond angle of NH3Cl+ is 109`5 in every H-N-H, H-N-Cl. The bond angle might slightly vary by few degrees in case of H-N-Cl as N is connected to a more electronegative Cl atom. This is because the size of Cl is larger than H so greater repulsion among the bonding pairs might result.

As such, the angle in the bonding pairs of H-N-Cl is greater (close to 1110) than in H-N-H. The tetrahedral arrangement of the atoms is best suited at 109`5.

NH3Cl+ lewis structure octet rule

Octet rule states that atoms are most stable when they have noble gas configuration i.e., eight electrons in its shell as it becomes inert. Let us study in details.

NH3Cl+ follows octet rule as all the atoms obeys it. The octet of N is fulfilled as it has 8 electrons in its surrounding by forming 4 single covalent bonds. Cl obeys octet rule as its octet is also filled by forming one single covalent bond and bearing 3 non-bonding pairs of electrons.

H violates octet rule in the sense that its covalency is only 1. So it can adjusts only 2 electrons in its surrounding. But it does fulfil inert configuration like that of He hence, stable.

NH3Cl+ lewis structure lone pairs

Lone pair of electrons are the non-bonding pairs of electrons in hybridized orbitals that do not take part in any covalent/chemical bond formation. Let us discuss below.

NH3Cl+ has 3 lone pairs of electrons that do not participate in forming covalent bonds. The 3 lone pairs of electrons stay as non bonding pairs of electrons and occupies sp3 hybridized orbitals of Cl. They stay localized on Cl and do not participate in any electron transfer reactions.

NH3Cl+ valence electrons

Valence electrons are the loosely bounded outermost shell electrons that can either lose or gain its electrons to form covalent bonds. Let us study in details.

The valence electrons of NH3Cl+ is 14 that is used to construct the lewis structure and form chemical bonds. The total valence electrons of 15 has been subtracted by a value of one as NH3Cl+ has +1 charge. The outermost electrons in 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s and 3p of H, N and Cl contributes to total valence electrons.

The outer shell electronic state of N, H and Cl are 2s22p3, 1s1 and 3s23p5 and the valence electrons in 2s, 2p, 1s, 3s and 3p are loosely bounded to the nuclei as compared to the inner shell electrons.

NH3Cl+ hybridization

Hybridization is a phenomenon to obtain stable low energy hybridized orbitals taking place by overlapping of atomic orbitals of the atoms. Let us discuss in details below.

The hybridization of NH3Cl+ is sp3. N has 2s, 2px, 2py and 2pz unhybridized orbitals and it has one lone pair of electrons in 2s atomic orbital. All the four atomic orbitals undergo sp3 hybridization. It overlaps with the three 1s and 3p orbitals of H and Cl in tetrahedral fashion to avoid repulsion.

The geometry of the molecule thus makes the molecule most stable with minimum bonding pairs repulsion and adopt sp3 hybridization.

Is NH3Cl+ polar or nonpolar?

Nonpolar molecules are those that have zero net dipole moment and polar molecules have some net dipole moment that can form dipole ends. Let us discuss below.

NH3Cl+ is a polar molecule as it has unsymmetrical distribution of electron cloud due to the presence of more electronegative Cl atom. Generally, tetrahedral molecules are nonpolar but as NH3Cl+ has inequivalent bonding pair, it is polar in nature. The dipole moment vector of N-Cl is greater than 3 N-H bonds.

As such, 3 N-H do not completely cancel out N-Cl dipole moment vectors. There is a generation of negative charge towards N-Cl and positive charge towards N-H and can act as dipoles in polar solution.

nh3cl dipole logo
Arrows signify dipole moment vectors of NH3Cl+ lewis structure

Is NH3Cl+ ionic or covalent?

Ionic compounds are formed between metals and non-metals and covalent compounds are formed between non-metals. Let us discuss in details below.

NH3Cl+ is a covalent compound as it is formed between non-metals, Cl, H and N. They have close range electronegativity difference, not greater than 1.5. Electron sharing takes place instead of electron transfer giving covalent character.

NH3Cl+ solubility

Solubility of a compound is the energy released when hydration energy exceeds lattice energy. Let us check more facts below.

NH3Cl+ is found to be soluble in the following solvent:

  • Water
  • Slightly alkaline solution
  • Ether

NH3Cl+ is soluble in water due to its positive charge. The positive charge on N can attract water molecules towards itself. Also, N has a tendency to form H bonding due to its electronegativity. Hence, it can form ion dipole-dipole interactions to elevate hydration energy greater than lattice energy.

Is NH3Cl+ electrolyte?

An electrolyte is a chemical substance that consists of radical cations and anions packed together by intermolecular forces. Let us study more facts below.

NH3Cl+ is not an electrolyte. It does not contain cations and anions packed together. It is protonated form of chloramine, NH2Cl, which is an electrolyte but NH3Cl+ is not.

Is NH3Cl+ acidic or basic?

An acid has the ability to donate protons or accept electrons where as a base donate electrons or hydroxyl ions. Let us check if NH3Cl+ is acidic or not.

NH3Cl+ is acidic in nature as it has a proton attached to N atom giving positive charge. It can lose its proton to show acidic character and attain stability. Moreover, NH3Cl+ is a gas phase intermediate which is not stable unless it loses its proton and retain back to its original state.

Conclusion

NH3Cl+ is a gas phase intermediate of chloramine that is soluble in water due to its polar nature and unsymmetrical electron cloud distribution.

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