Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video, we draw the molecular geometry for NH₄⁺, the ammonium ion. We start by drawing the correct Lewis structure for NH₄⁺.
Lewis Structure for NH4+
youtu.be/7c9QC1e73oc
Once we have that, we can figure out the molecular geometry. The nitrogen atom in the center is bonded to four hydrogen atoms and has no lone pairs. That means there are four things around the central atom, and they’ll spread out as far apart as possible. This gives us a tetrahedral molecular geometry.
The electron geometry is also tetrahedral, since there are no lone pairs to affect the shape.
We can also describe this using AXE notation:
A = the central atom (nitrogen)
X = number of atoms bonded to the central atom (4 hydrogens)
E = number of lone pairs on the central atom (0)
So we get AX₄, which corresponds to a tetrahedral shape—just like we found earlier.
👉Helpful Resources:
• How to Draw Lewis Structures: youtu.be/1ZlnzyHahvo
• Molecular Geometry and VSEPR Explained: youtu.be/Moj85zwdULg
• Molecular Geo App: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/molecule-shapes/latest/molecule-shapes_en.html
Get more chemistry help at breslyn.org
#MolecularGeometry, #LewisStructure,
#VSEPRTheory
In this video, we draw the molecular geometry for NH₄⁺, the ammonium ion. We start by drawing the correct Lewis structure for NH₄⁺.
Lewis Structure for NH4+
youtu.be/7c9QC1e73oc
Once we have that, we can figure out the molecular geometry. The nitrogen atom in the center is bonded to four hydrogen atoms and has no lone pairs. That means there are four things around the central atom, and they’ll spread out as far apart as possible. This gives us a tetrahedral molecular geometry.
The electron geometry is also tetrahedral, since there are no lone pairs to affect the shape.
We can also describe this using AXE notation:
A = the central atom (nitrogen)
X = number of atoms bonded to the central atom (4 hydrogens)
E = number of lone pairs on the central atom (0)
So we get AX₄, which corresponds to a tetrahedral shape—just like we found earlier.
👉Helpful Resources:
• How to Draw Lewis Structures: youtu.be/1ZlnzyHahvo
• Molecular Geometry and VSEPR Explained: youtu.be/Moj85zwdULg
• Molecular Geo App: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/molecule-shapes/latest/molecule-shapes_en.html
Get more chemistry help at breslyn.org
#MolecularGeometry, #LewisStructure,
#VSEPRTheory










