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Topic: Lewis Structure for CLNO2  (Read 21563 times)

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Offline NobleG

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Lewis Structure for CLNO2
« on: October 31, 2006, 08:28:02 PM »
I am doing a Lewis structure for ClNO2
I know this is a resonance hybrid, and I understand the concept of resonance.  What I don’t understand is why the double bond goes with the oxygen and not the chlorine.  I know this has something to do with the formal charge, but I’m still a little confused about the formal charge concept. 

Could someone explain this to me as related to CLNO2?

Thanks in advance!
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Offline Bakegaku

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Re: Lewis Structure for CLNO2
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2006, 09:10:51 PM »
I believe the reason that the double bond is on the oxygen is because it's simply more stable for an oxygen to have a double bond than a chlorine.  Hmm... are you sure there's no resonance structure where the chlorine does have a double bond?  It should balance the formal charge.
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Offline NobleG

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Re: Lewis Structure for CLNO2
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2006, 10:20:47 PM »
It's how to calculate what structure is the most stable that I'm having trouble with.  The two structures are:
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Offline Bakegaku

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Re: Lewis Structure for CLNO2
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2006, 10:38:22 PM »
Well I can't give you a reason why the chlorine doesn't form a double bond in this situation, but the two structures shown are equally stable.  The bond between each of the oxygen atoms and the nitrogen will be of equal strenght; there is no difference between them in the actual molecule.

You also need another nonbonding pair of electrons on the single-bonded oxygen in each diagram.
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"True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing"
-Socrates

"I see, I forget.  I hear, I remember.  I do, I understand"
-Confucius

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."
- Albert Einstein?

"American cartoons place characters in situations; anime
places situations around characters.  Anime characters
are not like fictional characters but more like fictional
people; their actions stem directly from their personalities,
and not just as a means to move the story's plot
forward.  We are made to sympathize with them, and
not simply be entertained by them."
~John Oppliger~

Offline NobleG

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Re: Lewis Structure for CLNO2
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2006, 10:50:49 PM »
Oh yeah.  I have it on my paper, but i forgot to put it on the diagram.
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