What is the chemical formula for ammonia?

Ammonia is a compound comprised of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms. The correct chemical formula for ammonia is NH3, which indicates that there is one nitrogen atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms. This molecular structure is significant because it reflects the basic properties and behavior of ammonia, which is commonly used in agriculture and various industrial processes.

The formula NH3 also highlights the typical valence states of nitrogen and hydrogen; nitrogen can form three bonds in this configuration, fulfilling its tetravalent requirement. Understanding this molecular makeup is important in both chemical education and practical applications, such as calculations involving molar mass or chemical reactions where ammonia is used.

The other choices do not represent ammonia. NH4, for instance, is the ammonium ion, which is a positively charged species and is not the neutral molecule ammonia itself. N2H6 could be misleading as it suggests a different molecular arrangement and does not form a commonly recognized compound. Lastly, N2O is nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, which is entirely different in composition and properties from ammonia.