Questions: Answer the questions in the table below about the shape of the nitrosyl choride (NOCl) molecule.
How many electron groups are around the central nitrogen atom?
Note: one "electron group" means one lone pair, one single bond, one double bond, or one triple bond.
Transcript text: Answer the questions in the table below about the shape of the nitrosyl choride $(\mathrm{NOCl})$ molecule.
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|}
\hline How many electron groups are around the central nitrogen atom? \\
Note: one "electron group" means one lone pair, one single bond, \\
one double bond, or one triple bond. \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Determine the Lewis Structure of NOCl
To determine the number of electron groups around the central nitrogen atom in nitrosyl chloride (NOCl), we first need to draw its Lewis structure. Nitrogen (N) is the central atom, bonded to oxygen (O) and chlorine (Cl). Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons, oxygen has 6, and chlorine has 7, giving a total of 18 valence electrons to distribute.
Step 2: Assign Electron Groups
In the Lewis structure of NOCl, nitrogen forms a double bond with oxygen and a single bond with chlorine. There are no lone pairs on the nitrogen atom. Therefore, the electron groups around the nitrogen atom are:
One double bond with oxygen
One single bond with chlorine
Step 3: Count the Electron Groups
Each bond (single or double) is considered one electron group. Thus, the nitrogen atom has:
1 electron group from the double bond with oxygen
1 electron group from the single bond with chlorine
Final Answer
The number of electron groups around the central nitrogen atom in NOCl is \(\boxed{2}\).