How do you find the bond order of NO_3^-?

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 10, 2016

The bond order is the average, "4 electron pairs" / "3 bonds" = "4/3 electron pairs per bond".

Explanation:

The Lewis structure of nitrate ion is unusual because it features 3 formal charges in that the nitrogen is quaternized and formally cationic, and 2 of the oxygen atoms have formal negative charges. Of course, the sum of the charges +1+2xx(-1)=-1 for a uninegative ion.

See [this old answer.](https://socratic.org/questions/what-is-the-formal-charge-of-n-in-hno-3)

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