What is #NO_2# called?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 9, 2017

#"Nitrogen(IV) dioxide.........."#

Explanation:

Or #"dinitrogen tetroxide"#.

The Lewis structure of #"NO"_2# features a lone electron on the formally positive nitrogen centre, and this can rationalize the formation of #"N"_2"O"_4#, #"dinitrogen tetroxide"#:

#2("O"=dot"N"^(+)-"O"^(-))rightleftharpoons(""^(-)"O")("O"=)"N"^(+)-""^(+)"N"(="O")("O"^-)#

The nitrogen radicals are conceived to couple to form a #"N"-"N"# bond, in which both centres are still formal cations. What is the formal charge on the dimer?

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