What hybrid orbitals are used by nitrogen atoms in NH3?
1 Answer
Oct 4, 2014
Nitrogen uses sp³ orbitals in NH₃.
1. Draw the Lewis structure.
http://www.chemteam.info/[VSEPR](http://socratic.org/chemistry/covalent-bonds-and-formulas/the-geometrical-arrangement-of-electrons-and-molecular-shape-vsepr)/LewisStructure-NH3.GIF
2. Use VSEPR Theory to predict the electron pair geometry.
This is an AX₃E molecule. It has 3 bonding pairs and one lone pair. The electron pairs point toward the corners of a tetrahedron.
3. Use the orbital geometry to predict the hybridization.
Orbitals that point toward the corners of a tetrahedron are sp³ hybridized.
