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  • Bonding in Ammonium Chloride (NH₄Cl): Ionic & Covalent Explanation
    NH₄Cl, ammonium chloride, exhibits two main types of bonding:

    1. Ionic bonding: This occurs between the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) and the chloride ion (Cl⁻). The ammonium ion forms through a covalent bond between nitrogen and four hydrogen atoms, resulting in a positively charged ion. The chloride ion has a negative charge due to gaining an electron. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms the ionic bond that holds the compound together.

    2. Covalent bonding: This type of bonding exists *within* the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺). Nitrogen shares electrons with four hydrogen atoms to form four covalent bonds, which give the ammonium ion its positive charge.

    Therefore, while the overall structure of NH₄Cl is held together by ionic bonds, the ammonium ion itself is formed by covalent bonding.

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