The Student Room Group

Bond angles help

For question Q1 (A) (ii) of this paper they ask for the shape of the dinitrogen oxide molecule. There is a triple bond between the N and N atom and a single dative bond between N and O atom therefore there are 4 areas of electron density around the central N atom one of the being a lone pair so the shape should be a trigonal pyramidal but why does the MS say accept only linear/180 degrees?? How can it be linear :s-smilie: is the triple bond so strong or something that it makes the whole molecule linear?? :s-smilie:
Reply 1
Original post by Hanz_a93
For question Q1 (A) (ii) of this paper they ask for the shape of the dinitrogen oxide molecule. There is a triple bond between the N and N atom and a single dative bond between N and O atom therefore there are 4 areas of electron density around the central N atom one of the being a lone pair so the shape should be a trigonal pyramidal but why does the MS say accept only linear/180 degrees?? How can it be linear :s-smilie: is the triple bond so strong or something that it makes the whole molecule linear?? :s-smilie:


Triple and double bonds act just like single bonds when working out the angles.

The central N has a triple bond and a single bond, with no lone pairs so it is linear. The dative bond is considered a normal single covalent bond for this too.
Reply 2
Original post by clownfish
Triple and double bonds act just like single bonds when working out the angles.

The central N has a triple bond and a single bond, with no lone pairs so it is linear. The dative bond is considered a normal single covalent bond for this too.


ahh i see! thanks !

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