QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
Draw the Lewis structure of NOCl (nitrosyl chloride) and then determine the number of nonbonding electron pairs on the central atom.
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Answer
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Step 1:I'll solve this problem step by step, following the LaTeX formatting guidelines precisely:
Step 2:: Determine the total number of valence electrons
Total valence electrons: $$5 + 6 + 7 = 18$$ electrons
- Nitrogen (N): 5 valence electrons - Oxygen (O): 6 valence electrons - Chlorine (Cl): 7 valence electrons
Step 3:: Arrange atoms and connect with single bonds
Cl
- Place N as the central atom - Connect O and Cl to N with single bonds - Initial electron distribution:
Step 4:: Calculate electrons used in single bonds
- 2 single bonds: $$2 \times 2 = 4$$ electrons used
- Single bonds use 2 electrons each
Step 5:: Distribute remaining electrons as nonbonding pairs
- Remaining electrons: $$18 - 4 = 14$$ electrons
- Distribute around atoms, prioritizing outer atoms first - Oxygen gets 3 pairs (6 electrons) - Chlorine gets 3 pairs (6 electrons) - Nitrogen (central atom) gets 1 pair (2 electrons)
Step 6:: Final Lewis structure
\begin{array}{c} \ddots \ :Cl - N = O: \end{array}
Step 7:: Count nonbonding electron pairs on central nitrogen
- Nitrogen has 1 nonbonding electron pair
Final Answer
The central nitrogen atom has 1 nonbonding electron pair in the Lewis structure of NOCl.
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