Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Redman222 on April 14, 2006, 09:10:52 AM

Title: It this a molecule or a Ionic compound?
Post by: Redman222 on April 14, 2006, 09:10:52 AM

I have a problem I can figure out! And Its really difficult for me to express myself freely in Enough so stand with me

+                         -
  NH_3-----N----COO
               !
               R

It this a molecule or a Ionic compound?
I can't think that any molecule compond could have any electrical charge.
Thus
                                        --
This is molecule NH_3     H - N - H
                                        !
                                        H
                               +
And this is Inonu NH_4 
                                                                                                                           +
I think that every compond that is not electrically neutral is a Ion, Its impossible for NH_4   to be a molecule and have a positive charge. If it would be a molecule, the N would not have full outer shell and the molecule as whole would be electrically discharged, It would look something like this

    H
    !
H--N--H
    !
   H

But If   +                         -
           NH_3-----N----COO          is a Ion, why is it drawn like a molecule?
                        !
                        R

Title: Re: ion
Post by: Albert on April 14, 2006, 09:18:10 AM

It looks like an amino acid. It's called a zwitterion and its net charge is zero, so it isn't an ion. You can also draw it this way: H2N-N(R)-COOH.