[marcel1]

Over the summer before i enter 6th i have been asked a answer -
Describe and explain, in as much detail as you can, the structure, bonding, formation and importance of Ammonia. (30 marks)


does anyone have any advice about where i could find out the relevant information on this?

[gingerbreadman85]

Start with what you know from GCSE and go from there, you should already know quite a lot you can apply to this question. You might also want to think about what extra information you can add, consider for example that molecules are 3D shapes, not the lovely flat 2D ones you saw in your GCSE textbooks.

[JMaydom]

Things to think about for each topic....

Structure: VSEPR theory, use this to explain the shape

Bonding: Ammonia is polar, why is this? How does the polarity affect the bonding?

Formation: Industrial techniques for forming ammonia. Biological formation?

Importance: What is ammonia used for?

[gingerbreadman85]

(Original post by JMaydom)
Things to think about for each topic....

Structure: VSEPR theory, use this to explain the shape

Bonding: Ammonia is polar, why is this? How does the polarity affect the bonding?

Formation: Industrial techniques for forming ammonia. Biological formation?

Importance: What is ammonia used for?

Given that he is only just entering 6th form, VSEPR and polarity are terms he won't have met before. The former is also a term rarely used at a-level.

Working up to these concepts might be worth a go if the OP is prepared to push themselves, but i'd strongly advise starting with the GCSE content.... this'll be the first thing your teacher looks for in your answer.

[JMaydom]

(Original post by gingerbreadman85)
Given that he is only just entering 6th form, VSEPR and polarity are terms he won't have met before. The former is also a term rarely used at a-level.

Working up to these concepts might be worth a go if the OP is prepared to push themselves, but i'd strongly advise starting with the GCSE content.... this'll be the first thing your teacher looks for in your answer.

I agree, this may be a bit advanced for sub A-level. (didn't read the intro)

VSEPR though is used widely at A-level. Everyone at my uni covered VSEPR in their a-level course.

Anyway, they are fairly simple ideas. I would suggest looking them up and looking for help in areas you don't understand here!

[gingerbreadman85]

(Original post by JMaydom)
VSEPR though is used widely at A-level. Everyone at my uni covered VSEPR in their a-level course.

The theory is, i should know, i'm an A-level Chemistry teacher, however the term "VSEPR" is rarely used, the V&S are often dropped to give "electron pair repulsion"

You're right, they are fairly simple ideas once you get your head around them, however the concepts of polarity, intermolecular forces and molecular shapes still trip students up in AS. Remember that many of the concepts are completely new, intermolecular forces are only discussed in a very minor way at GCSE and shapes/polarity aren't at all.

If the OP can get a good understanding of them on their own, that's fantastic, otherwise there is a good reason you get taught this stuff by a teacher so they shouldn't feel inadequate if they don't get it!
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/bondingmenu.html#top is probably a good place to start.