Diazonium Chemistry (NaNO2, Sandmeyer, Nitrosyl)

Problem # 755

The nitrosyl cation is shown below. Also shown are several proposed resonance arrows, only one of which is correct.

Draw the resonance forms that would follow from each set of arrows, and include formal charges. Which one is the correct resonance form? Explain your reasoning.

Solution

When evaluating possible Lewis structures the most important rule to follow is the octet rule: every atom must be surrounded by 8 and only 8 electrons (atoms in period 3 or below on the periodic table have d orbitals and so can contain more than 8 electrons, but that exception does not apply here).

Do any of the resonance forms drawn have atoms that break the octet rule? Yes- they all do! Except for resonance arrows in D. So D is the correct resonance form.