Answer:
If an atom of nitrogen binds wit three hydrogen atoms to form a molecule of ammonia, the nitrogen have one lone pairs of electrons.
Explanation:
Ammonia is the binding of nitrogen to three hydrogens covalently, that is, the bonds that form share their electrons to acquire the stability of the electronic structure of the noble gas. Shared electrons are located at the outermost level (valence electrons).
Nitrogen has five pairs of electrons in its valence layer, wishing to have eight electrons to acquire stability. Hydrogen has an electron in its outer shell, and it must have two electrons to be stable. If nitrogen shares an electron covalently with each of the three hydrogens, the latter will have the two electrons to complete its outer shell and be stable. And nitrogen will acquire the three necessary electrons, one for each hydrogen bond, to have eight electrons and acquire stability. But, as mentioned, the nitrogen in its outer shell has five electrons. If three of them are shared covalently, there is a pair of electrons that is not shared. These two electrons, which form the pair of electrons, is the solitary pair or pair of electrons that are not shared, that is, the pair of valence electrons that is not forming a bond, nor shared with other atoms. This is what causes the ammonia molecule not to have a flat shape, but to have a tetrahedral shape.
So, if an atom of nitrogen binds wit three hydrogen atoms to form a molecule of ammonia, the nitrogen have one lone pairs of electrons.
