Question

1. resonance structures for nitrite (no₂⁻) and nitrate (no₃⁻) are shown to the right. a. calculate the bond - order for each compound.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall bond - order formula

The formula for bond order in resonance structures is $\text{Bond Order}=\frac{\text{Number of bonding pairs}}{\text{Number of resonance - equivalent bonds}}$.

Step2: For nitrite ($\text{NO}_2^-$)

In nitrite ($\text{NO}_2^-$), the total number of bonding pairs is 3 (counting the electron - pairs involved in the N - O bonds in the resonance structures). The number of resonance - equivalent N - O bonds is 2. So the bond order is $\frac{3}{2}=1.5$.

Step3: For nitrate ($\text{NO}_3^-$)

In nitrate ($\text{NO}_3^-$), the total number of bonding pairs is 4 (counting the electron - pairs involved in the N - O bonds in the resonance structures). The number of resonance - equivalent N - O bonds is 3. So the bond order is $\frac{4}{3}\approx1.33$.

Answer:

The bond order of $\text{NO}_2^-$ is 1.5 and the bond order of $\text{NO}_3^-$ is $\frac{4}{3}\approx1.33$.