Question:

Ammonia acts as a very good ligand but ammonium ion does not form complexes because

Updated On: Jun 26, 2023
  • $NH_{3}$ is a gas while $NH^{+}_{4}$ is in liquid form
  • $NH_{3}$ undergoes $sp^{3}$ hybridisation while $NH^{+}_{4}$ undergoes $sp^{3} d$ hybridisation
  • $NH^{+}_{4}$ ion does not have any lone pair of electrons
  • $NH^{+}_{4}$ ion has one unpaired electron while $NH_{3}$ has two unpaired electrons
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The Correct Option is C

Approach Solution - 1

Complexes are formed by donation of a pair of electrons from ligand to metal. In ammonia, $N$ atom has one lone pair of electrons. So it can form complexes. Nitrogen donates this lone pair of electrons to proton to form ammonium ion. $NH _{4}^{+}$ion does not possess any lone pair of electrons which it can donate to central metal ion hence it does not form complexes.
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Approach Solution -2

Since ligands are often electron donors, they can provide electrons to organisms that lack them. Due to the fact that metals can take electrons, they are joined to the central metal atom. Therefore, a species must either be negatively charged, neutral, or possess a single electron pair in order to be a ligand. Ammonia can accept a pair of electrons from coordination complexes since it only contains one pair. Ammonia is transformed into an ion called ammonium, which lacks a lone pair to donate and form complexes.
Ammonium ion can not form complexes, hence ammonia can be a highly excellent ligand.
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Concepts Used:

Coordination Compounds

A coordination compound holds a central metal atom or ion surrounded by various oppositely charged ions or neutral molecules. These molecules or ions are re-bonded to the metal atom or ion by a coordinate bond.

Coordination entity:

A coordination entity composes of a central metal atom or ion bonded to a fixed number of ions or molecules.

Ligands:

A molecule, ion, or group which is bonded to the metal atom or ion in a complex or coordination compound by a coordinate bond is commonly called a ligand. It may be either neutral, positively, or negatively charged.