Organic Chemistry (8th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321768418
ISBN 13: 978-0-32176-841-4

Chapter 1 - Introduction and Review - Problems - Page 25: Problem 1-14 a

Answer

By donating the proton bonded to nitrogen, it can act as an acid. And since ammonia has nitrogen which has a lone pair of electrons which can accept a proton, it can act as a base. It acts as a base in water.

Work Step by Step

Acid is any species that can donate proton. Ammonia has three protons bonded to it. So by donating a proton, it can act as an acid. A base is any species that accepts a proton. Nitrogen in ammonia has a lone pair of electron, which can accept a proton and act as an acid. In water, ammonia accepts a proton and acts as a base.
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