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6208197 No.6208197 [Reply] [Original]

NH3 + H2O is an equilibrium reaction mostly yielding NH4+ + OH-.

My question is why isn't it the other way around? The polar nature of water means that O's bond to H is stronger than N's bond to its H's. So how can N pull O's H if O and its H's have stronger bonds than N and its H's?

O is more electronegative, stronger polarity...etc. I just don't understand why H2O is disassociated over NH3 considering H2O is stronger.

What am I missing?

>> No.6208203

There's no such molecule as ammonium hydroxide. It's just written that way for

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_hydroxide

>> No.6208206

there are always some free H+ in H2O
NH3 is a powerful base and takes those free H+
OH- is feeling fine with just another H2O
it takes lots of energy to have N make two double bonds from the scratch

>> No.6208244

I still don't understand. Doesn't H2O have stronger bonds? How can NH3 steal hydrogen?

I just can't comprehend why H2O isn't stealing NH3's hydrogen if NH3 is weaker

>> No.6208263

>>6208197
Ammonia is mildly basic.

The answer is within molecular orbital theory
http://chemistry.umeche.maine.edu/CHY252/HOMO-LUMO.html

>> No.6208302

>>6208263

How does the basicity matter

>> No.6208317

>>6208302

it's the type of base.

produces an OH- (in an aqueous solution) therefor it's an arrhenius base.

strong bases are soluble in water and are completely dissociated, weak bases ionize just slightly.

>> No.6208319

>>6208302
Because you described a base reaction

NH3 + H2O is an equilibrium reaction mostly yielding NH4+ + OH-.

Acids : H3O+ formed
Base: OH- formed

>> No.6208323

>>6208302
>>6208302
www.chem.latech.edu/~upali/chem281/notes/Ch2-MO-Theory.pdf

page 29

>> No.6208367

>>6208197

Among other things, it relates to the spontaneity of the reaction. The forward reaction (producing NH4+ and OH-) is spontaneous under normal conditions.