Question #4f65c

The key to this problem lies with the resonance structures of the two molecules, nitric acid, #"HNO"_3#, and the nitrate anion, #"NO"_3^(-)#.

Now, I will not go into details about how to draw these Lewis structures because I assume that you're familiar with that.

Now, take a look at the three possible resonance structures for the nitrate anion

All of these three resonance structures are equivalent, which means that they all contribute equally to the actual structure of the molecule.

Take a look at one of these #"N"-"O"# bonds, let's say the top one (all three are equivalent, though). Notice that this bond between these two atoms is represented by

• a single bond in the leftmost structure
• a double bond in the middle structure
• a single bond in the rightmost structure

Since all of these structures are equal contributors, you can think of this bond as being a single bond #2/3# of the time and a double bond #1/3# of the time.

What actually happens is that the bond between nitrogen and oxygen is a mix between all three cases. This means that you can write

#"Bond" = 1/3 * 1 + 1/3 * 1 + 1/3 * 2 = 2/3 + 2/3 = 1.33#

The bond between nitrogen and oxygen in the nitrate anion is somewhere between a single bond and a double bond, but closer to a single bond.

This is called electron delocalization. The #pi#-bond electrons are delocalized over the three #"N"-"O"# bonds.

Now look at the resonance structures for the nitric acid molecule, for which only two major contributors can be drawn

The bond between hydrogen and oxygen prevents electron delocalization for taking place over all three #"N"-"O"# bonds.

For the oxygen to which the hydrogen is attached, the bond with nitrogen will always be equal to a single bond.

On the other hand, the other two #"N"-"O"# bonds will be involved in delocalized pi bonding, but this time these two bonds will be

#"Bond" = 1/2 * 1 + 1/2 * 2 = 1.5#

Using the time concept again, this happens because these bonds exist halfway between a single bond half of the time, and a double bond the other half of the time.

Remember, in reality the resonance forms do not switch one between the other. All three forms exist simultaneously and they form something called a hybrid structure.

Here's how that would look for the nitrate anion

and for the nitric acid molecule

So, to sum this up, for the nitrate anion, all three #"N"-"O"# bonds are equivalent to #1.33#. By comparison with the two #"N"-"O"# bonds that experience delocalization in the nitric acid molecule, the former ones will be longer and weaker.

Remember, a triple bond is shorter and stronger than a double bond, which in turn is stronger and shorter than a single bond.

So the bigger the bond order, the shorter and more stable the bond. Since #1.5 > 1.33#, the two #"N"-"O"# bonds in #"HNO"_3# that experience delocalization will be shorter and stronger.

The one #"N"-"O"# bond for which the oxygen is bonded to the hydrogen will be the longest and the weakest of the group.