Explain the formation of covalent bonds in ammonia molecule (NH_(3)).

1.	Explain the formation of covalent bonds in ammonia molecule (NH_(3)).
Answer» SOLUTION :Nitrogen is a central atom in the molecule of ammonia. The atomic number of nitrogen is 7, so its electronic configuration is `{:(K,L),(2,5):}` Thus, nitrogen has five electrons in its L shell. THEREFORE, it needs three more electrons to fill the L shell. Nitrogen shares three of its valence electrons with one electron each of K shell of three hydrogen atoms to form a molecule of ammonia `(NH_(3))`. As a result, nitrogen atom of ammonia attains the electronic configuration of its NEAREST noble gas NEON (Ne), which has eight electrons in its L shell, while hydrogen atom attains the electronic configuration of its nearest noble gas helium (He), which has two electrons in its K shell. Here, these valence electrons are depicted by DOTS or crosses is shown as follows:

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