Why is ammonia a Lewis base?

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Answer 1 · 2018-07-18T14:51:25

Well what is a $Lewis base...?$ $"Lewis base...?"$

Is it not an electron pair $DONOR...$ $"DONOR..."$ ?

And of course ammonia CAN behave in this capacity...i.e. consider its Bronsted basicity..

$N H_{3} (a q) + H_{2} O (l) ⇌ N H_{4}^{+} + H O^{-}$ $NH_3(aq) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoonsNH_4^+ + HO^-$

The equilibrium lies to the left as we face the page. And ammonia is a potent ligand towards transitions metals...

$C o C l_{3} (a q) + 6 N H_{3} (a q) \to {[C o {(N H_{3})}_{6}]}_{6}^{3 +} + 3 C l^{-}$ $CoCl_3(aq) + 6NH_3(aq) rarr [Co(NH_3)_6]^(3+)+3Cl^-$

The $hexamine cobalt(III)$ $"hexamine cobalt(III)"$ species is a classic Werner compound.

And thus ammonia fits the description...still pretty smelly tho, and when you open the bottle the neighbours complain if you are a bit careless...