What is the electron configuration of nitrogen dioxide?

1 Answer
anor277
Dec 24, 2016

There are 17 valence electrons to distribute around 3 centres........

Explanation:

And the 17 valence electrons come from the 5+2xx6 oxygen, and nitrogen valence electrons.

So a reasonable Lewis structure is (O=)N^(+)-O^- with a LONE nitrogen-centred valence electron. These electrons can couple to form a N-N bond in a dimer.

2(O=)N^(+)-O^(-)rightleftharpoons(""^(-)O)(O=)N^(+)-NO_2

There is necessarily formal charge separation in both the monomer and the dimer.

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