Question

What is the Lewis dot structure `NH_4NO_2` and `NH_4NO_3`?

Answer 1

These are ionic species, i.e. `"ammonium "NH_4^+`, `"nitrite "NO_2^(-),` and nitrate `NO_3^-`.

Explanation:

Ammonium ion, 8 valence electrons, `4xxN-H` bonds nitrogen is quaternized, 4 electrons, and a formal cation.

Nitrite ion, 18 valence electrons, `""^(-)O-N=O`, 7 valence electrons around the oxygen, 5 around the (neutral) nitrogen, and 6 around the (neutral) oxygen.

Nitrate ion, `O=N^+(-O^-)_2`, 4 valence electrons around quaternized `N`, hence a formal cation, 6 around the neutral oxygen,and 7 around the 2 anionic oxygens.

Obviously the formal charge is delocalized in all of these examples.