Lewis Structures of Ions

Part of the Structure and Bonding section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 14 of 49.

For an ion, count the charge: +1 electron per minus, −1 per plus. Then draw as usual.

Put the structure in square brackets with the charge outside.

The ammonium ion: N bonded to four H, in square brackets with a plus charge

The ammonium ion, NH₄⁺

Nitrate can be drawn three ways (the double bond to any O). All are right.

The nitrate ion: N double bonded to one O and single bonded to two, in brackets with a minus charge

One of the three ways to draw NO₃⁻

Challenge

The ammonium ion, NH₄⁺, is in many fertilizers. Draw its Lewis structure.

Try it yourself

Lewis boardDraw the Lewis structure of NH₄⁺

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Structure and Bonding

2Covalent Bonds

5Forces Between Molecules

8Practice Problems

3Shapes of Molecules

6Metals and Giant Structures