Question

Assign formal charges to each atom in the three resonance forms of n2o. Which resonance structure contributes the most to the overall structure of n2o?

Answer 1

Formal charges in the resonance forms of N2O indicate the structure with a terminal oxygen atom is most stable due to its distribution of formal charges being closest to zero.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves assigning formal charges to each atom in the different resonance forms of N2O (nitrous oxide) and determining which resonance structure contributes most to the overall structure of the molecule.

The formal charges for the resonance structures are given as:

• Structure 1: :N ≡ N ≡ O: (N-terminal) has formal charges of 0, +1, and -1 respectively.
• Structure 2: :N ≡ O ≡ N: (O-terminal) has formal charges of -1, +2, and -1 respectively.

To determine the most stable resonance structure, we look for the structure with formal charges that are closest to zero. The structure with a terminal oxygen atom is most stable, as it best satisfies the criteria for the most stable distribution of formal charge.