Does NO2 obey the octet rule?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether the nitrogen dioxide molecule (NO2) adheres to the octet rule, which states that atoms tend to form molecules in a way that each atom ends up with eight electrons in its valence shell. To answer this, we will analyze the electronic structure of NO2 and how the electrons are distributed among the nitrogen and oxygen atoms.
Answer
NO2 does not obey the octet rule.
NO2 does not obey the octet rule because it has an odd number of valence electrons, resulting in only seven electrons surrounding the nitrogen atom.
Answer for screen readers
NO2 does not obey the octet rule because it has an odd number of valence electrons, resulting in only seven electrons surrounding the nitrogen atom.
More Information
NO2 is an example of a molecule that violates the octet rule because it has an odd number of valence electrons, making it impossible for all the atoms to have eight electrons in their valence shell.
Tips
Common mistakes include assuming that all molecules must obey the octet rule or misunderstanding the structure of NO2.
Sources
- Exceptions to the Octet Rule - chem.libretexts.org
