What is the maximum number of covalent bonds the nitrogen atom can form? Why?
The ammonium ion, NH4+, has 4 covalent bonds. When you’re thinking of covalent bonds on nitrogen, one usually thinks of the 3-2p electrons. NH3 is ammonia. But there is also the “lone pair” of 2-2s electrons. And a hydrogen ion (quite common in water) can “latch” onto the lone pair. 2 electrons = covalent bond between the N and the H. The positive ionic charge is distributed throughout the NH4+ cation.
