Lewis Electron - Dot Structure of NO2- - #42

A simple procedure for writing Lewis Dot Electron Structures was given in a previous article entitled “Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule”.
Several worked examples relevant to this procedure were given in previous posts please see the Sitemap - Table of Contents (Lewis Electron Dot Structures).

Let us consider the case of  NO₂^-.

Step 1: Connect the atoms with single bonds. 

Fig. 1 : Connect the atoms of NO₂^- with single bonds.

 Step 2:  Calculate the # of electrons in π bonds (multiple bonds) using  formula (1): 

Where n in this case is 3. Where V = (5 +6*2) – (-1) = 18 , V is the number of valence electrons of the ion.

Therefore, P = 6n + 2 – V = 6 * 3 + 2 – 18  = 2     So, there is 1 double bond.

Step 3 & 4: The  dot Lewis - resonance structuresof  NO₂^- are as follows:

Fig. 2 : Plausible Lewis Resonance Dot Structures of NO₂^-