Dino Nuggets - 12C

[Ashley Kao 1H]

Within the study guide there is a question asking to find the Lewis structure of N2O with N as the central atom. During the review session, we answered with three bonds between two Nitrogen and one bond between the central Nitrogen and Oxygen. However, when we get this answer, the Formal Charge of the central Nitrogen is +1. Why is this the best resonance structure if there are alternative structures that provide 0 as the Formal Charge of the central Nitrogen?

[Jamie Lee 1H]

This is the best resonance structure because O is more electronegative than N and you want to put the least electronegative atom, which would be N, in the center.

[Ayushi2011]

We always want to put the least electronegative atom in the center.

[Siddiq 1E]

Looking at the formal charge and electronegativity, oxygen would rather have a negative formal charge than nitrogen because oxygen is more electronegative.