Polarity

[StudentD2B]

Why is N20 Polar? If its a linear molecule with 2 nitrogens and 1 oxygen, shouldn't it be non-polar?

[Brandon_Tran_2E]

Although it is linear, oxygen is more electronegative than nitrogen therefore it pulls on the electrons more to its side , creating a dipole moment and making oxygen slightly negative.

[Saleha_Mian_3E]

linear does not necessarily mean that all elements will be non-polar, like the previous comment said oxygen is more negative, wanting to pull the electrons to have a full valence while nitrogen becomes slightly positive.

[Cameron_Greenberg_3C]

The molecule is linear, but since nitrogen is the least electronegative, it is the central atom. So the molecules are lined up N-N-O. Oxygen is much more electronegative than nitrogen making the molecule negatively charged on the oxygen side and therefore polar.

[daisyjimenezt]

The molecule is linear, but since nitrogen is the least electronegative, it is the central atom. So the molecules are lined up N-N-O. Oxygen is much more electronegative than nitrogen making the molecule negatively charged on the oxygen side and therefore polar.

Why are the molecules lined up N-N-O and not N-O-N??

[harperlacroix1a]

Since oxygen is more electronegative, it pull on the molecule making it polar

[StudentD2B]

The molecule is linear, but since nitrogen is the least electronegative, it is the central atom. So the molecules are lined up N-N-O. Oxygen is much more electronegative than nitrogen making the molecule negatively charged on the oxygen side and therefore polar.

Why is it lined up that way though. Shouldn't oxygen be the central atom? Is it because that particular arrangement has a lower formal charge?

[Brandon_Tran_2E]

The main reason N is the central atom is because it is the least electronegative out of the 3 atoms (it does not want electrons as much as oxygen therefore oxygen is by itself because its selfish). Also considering formal charge N-N-O is the most stable.

[Cameron_Greenberg_3C]

The molecule is linear, but since nitrogen is the least electronegative, it is the central atom. So the molecules are lined up N-N-O. Oxygen is much more electronegative than nitrogen making the molecule negatively charged on the oxygen side and therefore polar.

Why is it lined up that way though. Shouldn't oxygen be the central atom? Is it because that particular arrangement has a lower formal charge?

Typically the central atom will be the least electronegative of all the atoms in the molecule. Electronegativity is highest in the upper right corner of the periodic table near fluorine, so central atoms will typically be the leftmost or bottommost on the periodic table.

[Cameron_Greenberg_3C]

The molecule is linear, but since nitrogen is the least electronegative, it is the central atom. So the molecules are lined up N-N-O. Oxygen is much more electronegative than nitrogen making the molecule negatively charged on the oxygen side and therefore polar.

Why are the molecules lined up N-N-O and not N-O-N??

As was said above, nitrogen is less electronegative than oxygen and therefore the central atom. It also has a lower formal charge than the arrangement with oxygen in the center.