Question

Consider nitrous acid, \({\rm{HN}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{(HONO)}}\). (a) Write a Lewis structure. (b) What are the electron pair and molecular geometries of the internal oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the \({\rm{HN}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}\) molecule? (c) What is the hybridization on the internal oxygen and nitrogen atoms in \({\rm{HN}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}\)?

Short answer

a.

(b) Internal oxygen has a tetrahedral electron pair geometry, while nitrogen has a trigonal planar electron pair shape. Nitrogen's molecular geometry is distorted.

(c) Internal oxygen hybridization is \({\rm{s}}{{\rm{p}}^{\rm{3}}}\) and oxygen hybridization is \({\rm{s}}{{\rm{p}}^{\rm{2}}}\).

Step-by-step solution

Define atom

An element's fundamental unit is the atom. An atom is a unit of stuff that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes.

Explanation

(a) \({\rm{HN}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}\) Lewis’s structure:

Explanation

(b and c) The interior oxygen atom is surrounded by four electron density zones that are arranged in a tetrahedral electron-pair shape. In a tetrahedral configuration, the hybridization is\({\rm{s}}{{\rm{p}}^{\rm{3}}}\). Internal oxygen's molecule shape is distorted.

Three zones of electron density surround the nitrogen atom, arranging themselves in a trigonal planar electron-pair shape. In a trigonal planar configuration, the hybridization is \({\rm{s}}{{\rm{p}}^{\rm{2}}}\). Nitrogen's molecular geometry is bent.