What is the molecular structure of "nitrous oxide", N_2O?

2 Answers
Feb 9, 2017

"Nitrous oxide" is linear.

Explanation:

And how do we know? Well, by experiment, and measurement, but VESPER gives a good approximation. We have 2xx5+6=16 "valence electrons" to distribute over 3 centres.

A structure of N-=N^(+)-O^(-) is reasonable, even tho it invokes formal charge separation. Its resonance structure of ""^(-)N=N^(+)=O is formally equivalent. Disregarding the multiple bonds, there are 2 regions of electron density around the central nitrogen, and VESPER would predict that /_O-N-O=180^@, and experiment confirms this.

Feb 9, 2017

It's a linear...

Explanation:

It has a big explanation cause it needs the electrically neutrality. But it's structure is like this. It's one of the 8 Lewis structures it can have:
.^(-)N = N^+ = O