Why Does NH3 Form Complex Ions with Transition Elements But NH4 Does Not?

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SUMMARY

NH3 (ammonia) forms complex ions with transition metals due to its ability to act as a Lewis base, donating a lone pair of electrons to the metal center. In contrast, NH4+ (ammonium) does not form such complexes because it lacks a lone pair of electrons, having all four hydrogen atoms bonded to nitrogen. The presence of unpaired d electrons in transition metals facilitates the formation of these complexes, while NH4+ is a stable ion with no such capacity. This distinction is crucial in coordination chemistry.

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amesalot57
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I am taking this correspondence course, i ran into this question and I think i know the answer but I'm not sure.
Why is it that NH3 readily forms complex ions with the transition elements but NH4 does not?
I think it is because of the extra bond with Hydrogen, therefore there is less unpaired d electrons but I'm not sure.
 
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