Question

Describe the bonding of the central atom in the NO2^-1 ion using Valence Bond Theory
1.) Sketch the hybrid orbitals of the central atoms. Show/describe what nitrogen electrons in which orbitals overlap with oxygen electrons in which orbitals.

2.) Write hybridizationa and bonding scheme for the central atom in the NO2^-1 ion. Sketch the molecule, including overllapping orbitals and label all bonds ( pi or sigma.)

Answer 1

The nitrite ion has the valence electron count of 18 , and the structure of Nitrite ion is bent. The central nitrogen atom in the nitrite ion is sp2 hybridised.( nitrogen gives 5, two oxygen has 12 plus one for the negative charge).

Assuming that the oxygen atoms are sp2 hybridised the two sp2 hybrid orbitals on each oxygen and one sp2 hybrid orbital on nitrogen to accommodate the five of electrons. Two sp2 hybrid orbitals on nitrogen form σ bonds with the remaining sp2 hybrid orbital on each oxygen. The σ bonds and lone pairs account for 14 electrons. Then we are left with three unhybridized 2p orbitals, one on each atom, perpendicular to the plane of the molecule, and 4 electrons. The rest of the 4 electrons are distributed over the three unhybridised p- orbitals