Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure and resonance of the ammonium ion (NH_4^+)?

• A. NH_4^+ has a central nitrogen atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms with no lone pairs, and it exhibits resonance.
• B. NH_4^+ has a central nitrogen atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms with one lone pair, and it exhibits resonance.
• C. NH_4^+ has a central nitrogen atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms and one lone pair, and it exhibits resonance.
• D. NH_4^+ has a central nitrogen atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms with no lone pairs, and it does not exhibit resonance.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the total number of valence electrons for the ammonium ion (NH_4^+). Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons, each hydrogen has 1, and the positive charge means one electron is removed, so total electrons = 5 + 4(1) - 1.
2. Step 2: Draw the Lewis structure by placing nitrogen as the central atom and connecting it to four hydrogen atoms with single bonds. Each bond represents 2 electrons shared between atoms.
3. Step 3: Check for lone pairs on the nitrogen atom. Since nitrogen shares all its valence electrons in bonding with four hydrogens and the positive charge reduces the total electrons by one, nitrogen has no lone pairs in NH_4^+.
4. Step 4: Understand resonance: Resonance occurs when there are multiple valid Lewis structures differing only in the placement of electrons. In NH_4^+, all bonds are equivalent single bonds and there are no alternative electron arrangements, so resonance does not occur.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct description is that NH_4^+ has a central nitrogen atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms with no lone pairs, and it does not exhibit resonance.