Coordinate (dative) bond
Chemical Bonding (Basics) · Chemistry
Molecule viewer
Interactive 3DBall-and-stick models with true bond angles — switch molecule to compare shapes.
Controls
Drag the sliders or type a value — the simulation updates live.
Study notes
Explain the bonding in the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺). Step 1: NH₃ has a lone pair on nitrogen; H⁺ has an empty 1s orbital. Step 2: N donates its lone pair into H⁺'s empty orbital → N → H coordinate bond. Step 3: Result: 3 normal N–H covalent bonds + 1 coordinate N→H bond. Step 4: Once formed, all four N–H bonds are identical (indistinguishable). The bond behaves exactly like a covalent bond after formation.