Nitrate ion

Hi, could someone explain to me why the top molecule is correctly drawn but the bottom is wrong? This if for a nitrate ion by the way. 8C351B45-0410-4297-A8CF-8F9E859DBB3F.jpg.jpeg

8C351B45-0410-4297-A8CF-8F9E859DBB3F.jpg.jpeg

thanks in advance

Reply 1

TypicalNerd

Original post by subbhy

Hi, could someone explain to me why the top molecule is correctly drawn but the bottom is wrong? This if for a nitrate ion by the way. 8C351B45-0410-4297-A8CF-8F9E859DBB3F.jpg.jpeg

thanks in advance

It’s because period 2 elements like nitrogen can’t have more than 4 bonds surrounding them (there is a reason for this explained beyond A level), so because the bottom structure has 5 bonds, it isn’t possible.

Reply 2

subbhy

Original post by TypicalNerd

So with a level knowledge of N having 5 valence electrons and thus being able to form 5 bonds, I wouldn’t be able to draw the structure of a nitrate ion?

Reply 3

TypicalNerd

Original post by subbhy

So with a level knowledge of N having 5 valence electrons and thus being able to form 5 bonds, I wouldn’t be able to draw the structure of a nitrate ion?

You just have to learn the structure of the nitrate ion as you are expected to know it at A level. Using A level knowledge of covalent bonds from elsewhere in the course to work it out will undoubtedly give you a wrong structure every time

(edited 6 months ago)

Reply 4

subbhy

Original post by TypicalNerd

You just have to learn the structure of the nitrate ion as you are expected to know it at A level. Using A level knowledge to work it out will undoubtedly give you a wrong structure every time