Question 1
Nitrous oxide, N
2O, is sometimes called “laughing gas”. What is the formal charge on the central nitrogen atom in the most favorable Lewis structure for nitrous oxide based on minimizing formal charge overall? (The atom connectivity is N–N–O.)
◦ –2
◦ –1
◦ 0
◦ +1
◦ +2
Question 2
The azide ion, N
3–, is very reactive although it is isoelectronic with the very stable CO
2 molecule. This reactivity is reasonable considering that
◦ a Lewis structure cannot be written for the azide ion that has nitrogen formal charges of zero.
◦ there is no valid Lewis structure possible for the azide ion.
◦ there are resonance structures for azide ion but not for carbon dioxide.
◦ nitrogen cannot form multiple bonds.
◦ charged species always decompose in solution.