Question

To create a molecule or model, a student will use blue spheres to represent nitrogen and white stairs to represent hydrogen. Which option correctly describes a model of ammonia (NH3)?

Option 1: N3H
Option 2: NH2
Option 3: NH4
Option 4: NH3

Answer 1

The correct model of ammonia is Option 4: NH3, featuring one nitrogen atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms. Ammonia has a pyramidal structure, and the chemical equation for its formation from nitrogen and hydrogen is N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct description of a model of ammonia (NH3) using blue spheres to represent nitrogen and white spheres to represent hydrogen is

Option 4: NH3.


This indicates one blue sphere (nitrogen) bonded to three white spheres (hydrogen atoms) to form the ammonia molecule. Ammonia has a pyramidal structure, with the nitrogen atom at the vertex and the three hydrogen atoms forming the base.

When writing and balancing the chemical equation for the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen to produce ammonia, we use the following formula:

N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3.


This indicates that two parts of nitrogen react with six parts of hydrogen to produce two parts of ammonia, which correlates with the molecular formula NH3, confirming that there are three hydrogen atoms for every nitrogen atom in a molecule of ammonia.