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Simple Method for writing Lewis Structures for N2O2

Lewis electron dot structure of dinitrogen dioxide N2O2

Lewis Dot Structures of N2O2

A simple procedure for writing Lewis structures is given in a previous article entitled “Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule”. Several worked examples relevant to this procedure were given in previous posts please see the Sitemap - Table of Contents (Lewis Electron Dot Structures).

Another example  for writing Lewis structures following the above procedure is given below.

Let us consider the case of the dot structures of dinitrogen dioxide N2O2. Dinitrogen dioxide is the brown film we see in the atmosphere all over highly polluted cities. The resonance structures for N2O2 are as follows:

 

Step 1: Connect the atoms with single bonds. The central atoms are the nitrogen atoms.

 

Step 2: Calculate the # of electrons in π bonds (multiple bonds) using formula (1) in the article entitled “Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule” :

Where n in this case is 4 since N2O2 consists of four atoms. Where V = (5 + 5 + 6 + 6 ) = 22

Therefore, P = 6n + 2 – V = 6 * 4 + 2 – 22 = 4

So there are 4π electrons in N2O2 and that means 2 double bonds or a triple bond must be added to the structure in Step 1.

Step 3 & 4: The Lewis structures for N2O2 are as follows:

Lewis structures for dinitrogen dioxide

Figure 1: Lewis structures for N2O2. Structure #1 is the only experimentally observed structure. Structure #4 is the least plausible since O the most electronegative of the elements in the above structure has a + charge and N the least electronegative of the atoms present a – charge.

 

Relevant Posts - Relevant Videos

Lewis Structures|Octet Rule: A Simple Method to write Lewis Structures

Simple Method for writing Lewis Structures for N2O4

 


 

References

  1. G.N. Lewis, J.A.C.S, 38, 762-785, (1916)
  2. E. C. McGoran, J. Chem. Educ., 68, 19-23 (1991)
  3. A.B.P. Lever, J. Chem. Educ., 49, 819-821, (1972)

 

Key Terms

resonance structures of dinitrogen dioxide N2O2, Lewis electron structures of dinitrogen dioxide, chemical formula of N2O2, simple procedure for drawing Lewis structures of dinitrogen dioxide,

 

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