Which type of bonding is present in ammonium ion ?

Options

A. Covalent bond
B. Coordinate bond
C. Ionic or electrovalent bond
D. No bonding

Explanation

To determine the type of bonding present in the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the structure of ammonia (NH₃)
- Ammonia consists of one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms.
- Nitrogen has five valence electrons, while each hydrogen has one valence electron.

### Step 2: Draw the Lewis structure of ammonia
- In the Lewis structure, nitrogen is at the center with three hydrogen atoms bonded to it.
- Nitrogen shares one of its electrons with each hydrogen, forming three covalent bonds.
- Additionally, nitrogen has one lone pair of electrons remaining.

### Step 3: Identify the interaction with a proton (H⁺)
- The ammonium ion is formed when ammonia reacts with a proton (H⁺), which is a hydrogen atom without any electrons.
- The proton carries a positive charge.

### Step 4: Determine how the ammonium ion is formed
- Since nitrogen in ammonia has a complete octet (it has eight electrons around it), it can donate its lone pair of electrons to the proton.
- This donation of the lone pair allows the proton to bond with the nitrogen atom.

### Step 5: Identify the type of bond formed
- The bond formed between nitrogen and the proton is not a typical covalent bond because both electrons in this bond come from nitrogen.
- This type of bond is called a coordinate bond (or dative bond) because one atom (nitrogen) provides both electrons for the bond.

### Conclusion
- Therefore, the type of bonding present in the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) is a **coordinate bond**.

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