CHemical equation showing how NH3 behaves as a base when dissolved in water
NH3 + HOH ==> NH4^+ + OH^-
To understand how NH3 (ammonia) behaves as a base when dissolved in water, we can look at the chemical equation that represents its reaction with water.
In water, NH3 acts as a base by accepting a proton (H+) from water, leading to the formation of the ammonium ion (NH4+) and hydroxide ion (OH-). The chemical equation for this process is as follows:
NH3 + H2O → NH4+ + OH-
Let's break down the reaction step by step:
1. NH3 (ammonia): In its dissolved state, ammonia attracts and accepts a proton from water due to its lone pair of electrons, indicating its basic behavior.
2. H2O (water): In this reaction, water acts as an acid by donating a proton (H+). It loses a proton to ammonia.
3. NH4+ (ammonium ion): As a result of accepting the proton, ammonia becomes an ammonium ion with a positive charge since it has gained an additional hydrogen atom.
4. OH- (hydroxide ion): The water molecule that lost a proton becomes a hydroxide ion with a negative charge. This is because it now has an extra oxygen atom and is left with one unshared pair of electrons.
In summary, when ammonia (NH3) is dissolved in water, it acts as a base by accepting a proton from water, resulting in the formation of the ammonium ion (NH4+) and hydroxide ion (OH-). This reaction is what defines NH3 as a base in aqueous solutions.
When ammonia (NH₃) dissolves in water, it acts as a base. Here is the chemical equation describing how NH₃ behaves as a base when dissolved in water:
NH₃ + H₂O ⟶ NH₄⁺ + OH⁻
In this equation, NH₃ reacts with water (H₂O) to form the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) and hydroxide ion (OH⁻). The ammonium ion is the conjugate acid of ammonia, as it has gained a hydrogen ion (H⁺) from water. The hydroxide ion is the characteristic of a base, as it is an electron pair donor. Therefore, when NH₃ dissolves in water, it accepts a hydrogen ion from water, resulting in the formation of the ammonium ion and the hydroxide ion.