Question

The central nitrogen atom in the no2- ion has __________ nonbonded electron pairs and __________ bonded electron pairs in its valence shell.

Answer 1

Answer:

1 pair of nonbonded electrons

3 pairs of bonded electrons

Explanation:

N has 5 electrons in its valence shell while O has 6.

Lewis structure of NO²⁻ is in the image.

N is in the middle of the structure because is the less electronegative atom. 3 electrons of this atom are forming the bonds and 2 electrons are nonbonded.

As you can see, N has 3 pairs of electrons forming 3 bonds with Oxygens and there is 1 pair of nonbonded electrons.

Answer 2

Answer:

one non-bonded electron pair and 3 bonded electron pair

Explanation:

NO2- has two oxygen atoms all of which might have been bound to nitrogen atom giving two electron bond pair. since it is an ion, it must have been in combined state with a metallic specie or hydrogen atom which gives it another bonded pair to make it a total of 3 bond pair therefore leaving one pair electron unbonded.

Remember that Bond pair is simply a pair of electron which is being shared mutually between two atoms forming a chemical bond or in other words, it means the electron density lies in between two atoms.

Every elements have electrons in their atoms.The electron pairs can be found in two types as bond pair and lone pair. The main difference between bond pair and lone pair is that bond pair is composed of two electrons that are in a bond whereas lone pair is composed of two electrons that are not in a bond.