Skip to content

Symmetry Lab › Td › Ammonium ion

NH₄⁺ Ammonium ion

Tetrahedral · point group Td · order 24

Open NH₄⁺ in 3D →

Point group
Td — The full symmetry of a regular tetrahedron: four C3 axes, three C2 axes (each also an S4 axis) and six dihedral mirror planes. There is no centre of inversion.
Order
24
Operations
E, 8C₃, 3C₂, 6S₄, 6σd
Shape
Tetrahedral
Atoms
5 (N, H × 4)

Symmetry elements of NH₄⁺

  • C₃ (1) — along one N–H bond
  • C₃ (2) — along one N–H bond
  • C₃ (3) — along one N–H bond
  • C₃ (4) — along one N–H bond
  • C₂ (x) — bisects two bond angles; also an S₄ axis
  • C₂ (y) — bisects two bond angles; also an S₄ axis
  • C₂ (z) — bisects two bond angles; also an S₄ axis
  • S₄ (x) — rotate 90°, then reflect
  • S₄ (y) — rotate 90°, then reflect
  • S₄ (z) — rotate 90°, then reflect
  • σd (1) — contains N and two ligands
  • σd (2) — contains N and two ligands
  • σd (3) — contains N and two ligands
  • σd (4) — contains N and two ligands
  • σd (5) — contains N and two ligands
  • σd (6) — contains N and two ligands

Structure

  • N–H 1.025 Å
  • H–N–H 109.5°
  • Charge +1; no lone pair
Ammonium ion (NH4+) — Td symmetry elements
Ammonium ion: symmetry elements of the Td point group

Other Td molecules

Open in the 3D lab →  ·  All Td molecules  ·  All point groups