Question

Azides of heavy metals explode when struck sharply, and are used in detonation caps. What is the Lewis structure for the most stable azide ion, `N_3^-`? Include lone pairs.

Answer 1

Each of the three nitrogen centres bear formal charges.....

Explanation:

We gots `15+1` valence electrons to distribute over 3 centres, i.e. 8 electron pairs.....

`""^(-):ddotN=stackrel(+)N=ddotN:^(-)`

And the 8 electron pairs are distributed, and VESPER would predict a linear anion. There is a formal NEGATIVE charge associated with the structure.