NH3 compound name
The NH3 compound name is ammonia. In general chemistry, ammonia is a widely used retained (common) name for the molecular compound with formula NH3.
Direct answer: NH3 is ammonia.
Why NH3 is named ammonia
- Classify the compound. Nitrogen and hydrogen are both nonmetals, so NH3 is a molecular (covalent) compound rather than an ionic compound.
- Recognize a common retained name. Some small, historically important molecular compounds are commonly referred to by retained names rather than strict prefix names (for example, water, methane, ammonia).
- Connect to acid–base terminology. When ammonia accepts a proton, it forms the ammonium ion, NH4+, whose name is closely related to ammonia (but NH4+ is a different species).
Systematic names that may appear for NH3
Although ammonia is the expected name in introductory chemistry for “nh3 compound name,” systematic variants may be encountered in naming systems for binary molecular compounds.
| Name type | Name for NH3 | How it is formed | Where it is commonly used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retained (common) name | Ammonia | Historical/common usage | General chemistry, laboratory and industry context |
| Prefix-based molecular name | Nitrogen trihydride | Element name + prefix for number of H atoms (tri-) | Occasional systematic descriptions |
| Alternative ordering | Trihydrogen nitride | Same stoichiometry, different ordering convention | Less common in introductory texts |
| Parent hydride name (IUPAC style) | Azane | Parent hydride naming for Group 15 hydrides | Specialized nomenclature contexts |
| Related conjugate acid (not NH3) | Ammonium (NH4+) | Protonated form of ammonia | Acid–base and salts (e.g., NH4Cl) |
Visualization: NH3 structure linked to the name ammonia
Final result
The NH3 compound name is ammonia; in systematic contexts it may also be called nitrogen trihydride (or, less commonly, trihydrogen nitride).