scilearner Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Why does nitrogen have a positive charge when all four hydrogens and nitrogen have full outer shells. There is no hydrogen without an electron here. Thanks!!
hermanntrude Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 there is a positive charge on the nitrogen because it has given up one of its electrons, to a hydrogen atom. If any atom loses electrons it becomes positively charged.
scilearner Posted October 21, 2009 Author Posted October 21, 2009 It is a covalent bond so aren't the atoms shared and nitrogen has give two in the diagram.
hermanntrude Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 yes well the charge is really on the nitrogen it's on the whole NH4 unit. This type of species is called a polyatomic ion. it's a small molecule with a charge on it.
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