What is the molecular formula of Ammonia?

Ammonia (NH₃) is a simple and important chemical compound composed of one nitrogen atom (N) and three hydrogen atoms (H). Its molecular formula — NH₃ — shows that each ammonia molecule contains a single nitrogen atom bonded covalently to three hydrogen atoms.

The nitrogen atom has five valence electrons, while each hydrogen atom has one. To complete its stable configuration (the octet), nitrogen shares one electron with each hydrogen atom, forming three single covalent bonds (N–H). As a result, the ammonia molecule has a trigonal pyramidal shape with a bond angle of approximately 107.3°, slightly less than the tetrahedral angle due to the presence of one lone pair of electrons on nitrogen.

Ammonia is a colorless gas with a sharp, irritating smell. It is highly soluble in water, forming ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH), a weak base. This property makes ammonia an important chemical in laboratories and industries. It acts as a building block for many compounds containing nitrogen, such as urea, nitric acid, and ammonium salts.

Ammonia occurs naturally from the decomposition of organic matter and is produced on a large scale by the Haber–Bosch process, where nitrogen (N₂) reacts with hydrogen (H₂) under high temperature and pressure in the presence of an iron catalyst:
N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃

The molecular formula NH₃ is crucial because it defines the compound’s chemical identity, molecular composition, and how it behaves in chemical reactions. Each symbol and number in the formula provides quantitative information about the atoms involved.

In short, the molecular formula of ammonia — NH₃ — represents a stable combination of nitrogen and hydrogen, making it one of the most studied and useful compounds in both inorganic chemistry and everyday science