Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (2024)

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (1)

I’m super excited to teach you the lewis structure of N2O4 in just 5 simple steps.

Infact, I’ve also given the step-by-step images for drawing the lewis dot structure of N2O4 molecule.

So, if you are ready to go with these 5 simple steps, then let’s dive right into it!

Lewis structure of N2O4 contains two Nitrogen (N) atoms at the center and it is surrounded by four Oxygen (O) atoms. The two Oxygen are double bonded while the other two Oxygen are single bonded with Nitrogen. The double bonded oxygen has 2 lone pairs while the single bonded oxygen has 3 lone pairs.

Let’s draw and understand this lewis dot structure step by step.

(Note: Take a pen and paper with you and try to draw this lewis structure along with me. I am sure you will definitely learn how to draw lewis structure of N2O4).

5 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of N2O4

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is N2O4 (Dinitrogen tetroxide). In order to draw the lewis structure of N2O4, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the N2O4 molecule.
(Valence electrons are the number of electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom).

So, let’s calculate this first.

Calculation of valence electrons in N2O4

  • For Nitrogen:
Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (2)

Nitrogen is a group 15 element on the periodic table. [1]

Hence, the valence electrons present in nitrogen is 5 (see below image).

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (3)
  • For Oxygen:

Oxygen is a group 16 element on the periodic table. [2]

Hence, the valence electron present in oxygen is 6 (see below image).

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (5)

Hence in a N2O4 molecule,

Valence electrons given by Nitrogen (N) atom = 5
Valence electrons given by each Oxygen (O) atom = 6
So, total number of Valence electrons in N2O4 molecule = 5(2) + 6(4) = 34

Step #2: Select the center atom

While selecting the atom, always put the least electronegative atom at the center.

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (6)

(Remember: Fluorine is the most electronegative element on the periodic table and the electronegativity decreases as we move right to left in the periodic table as well as top to bottom in the periodic table). [3]

Here in the N2O4 molecule, if we compare the nitrogen atom (N) and oxygen atom (O), then the nitrogen is less electronegative than oxygen.

So, nitrogen atoms should be placed in the center and the remaining 4 oxygen atoms will surround it.

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (7)

Step #3: Put two electrons between the atoms to represent a chemical bond

Now in the above sketch of N2O4 molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between each nitrogen atom and oxygen atom to represent a chemical bond between them.

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (8)

These pairs of electrons present between the Nitrogen (N) and Oxygen (O) atoms form a chemical bond, which bonds the nitrogen and oxygen atoms with each other in a N2O4 molecule.

Step #4: Complete the octet (or duplet) on outside atoms. If the valence electrons are left, then put the valence electrons pair on the central atom

Don’t worry, I’ll explain!

In the Lewis structure of N2O4, the outer atoms are oxygen atoms.

So now, you have to complete the octet on these oxygen atoms (because oxygen requires 8 electrons to have a complete outer shell).

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (9)

Now, you can see in the above image that all the oxygen atoms form an octet.

Also, all the 34 valence electrons of N2O4 molecule (as calculated in step #1) are used in the above structure. So there are no remaining electron pairs.

Hence there is no change in the above sketch.

Let’s move to the next step.

Step #5: Check whether the central atom has octet or not. If it does not have an octet, then move the electron pair from the outer atom to form a double bond or triple bond

In this step, we have to check whether the central atom (i.e nitrogen) has an octet or not.

In simple words, we have to check whether both the central Nitrogen (N) atoms have 8 electrons or not.

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (10)

As you can see from the above image, both the nitrogen atoms have only 6 electrons. So they do not fulfill the octet rule.

Now, in order to fulfill the octet of nitrogen atoms, we have to move the electron pair from the outer atoms (i.e oxygen atom) to form a double bond.

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (11)

Now you can see from the above image that the central atom (i.e nitrogen), is having 8 electrons.

This indicates that both these nitrogen atoms are now stable, and this is the stable lewis structure of N2O4.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of N2O4 represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of N2O4 can also be represented as shown below.

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (12)

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of COF2
Lewis Structure of SCl4
Lewis Structure of PBr5
Lewis Structure of SiS2
Lewis Structure of OCS

Article by;

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (13)

Jay Rana

Jay is an educator and has helped more than 100,000 students in their studies by providing simple and easy explanations on different science-related topics. With a desire to make learning accessible for everyone, he founded Knords Learning, an online learning platform that provides students with easily understandable explanations.Read more about our Editorial process.

Author

Jay Rana

Jay is an educator and has helped more than 100,000 students in their studies by providing simple and easy explanations on different science-related topics. With a desire to make learning accessible for everyone, he founded Knords Learning, an online learning platform that provides students with easily understandable explanations.

Read more about our Editorial process.

Lewis Structure of N2O4 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the structure of n2o4? ›

Structure and properties

Dinitrogen tetroxide could be regarded as two nitro groups (-NO2) bonded together. It forms an equilibrium mixture with nitrogen dioxide. The molecule is planar with an N-N bond distance of 1.78 Å and N-O distances of 1.19 Å.

What is the order for writing Lewis dot structures from steps 1 to 5? ›

Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons. Step 2: Write the skeleton structure of the molecule. Step 3: Use two valence electrons to form each bond in the skeleton structure. Step 4: Try to satisfy the octets of the atoms by distributing the remaining valence electrons as nonbonding electrons.

What does N2O4 look like? ›

Nitrogen tetroxide appears as red-brown liquid with a sharp, unpleasant chemical odor. Low-boiling (boiling point 21.15 °C) and held as a liquid by compression. Density 1.448 g / cm3.

What is the geometric shape of N2O4? ›

Answer and Explanation: The two arrows at the bottom are the resultant vector of dipole moment which cancel our each other making it a non polar compound. The geometry around each O-N-O is trigonal planar and the whole molecule is planar.

How do you draw a Lewis dot structure easy? ›

Follow these steps to create a lewis dot structure for a molecule:
  1. Use the Periodic Table to determine the total number of valence electrons in a molecule. ...
  2. Apply the "octet rule." Atoms are "happy" when they have 8 electrons in their outer shell. ...
  3. Choose which atom will be in the center. ...
  4. Determine covalent bonds.
May 28, 2021

What is the Lewis structure for dummies? ›

A Lewis diagram shows how the valence electrons are distributed around the atoms in a molecule. Shared pairs of electrons are drawn as lines between atoms, while lone pairs of electrons are drawn as dots next to atoms.

What is the Lewis dot structure simplified? ›

Lewis Dot Structure

Lewis structures are a useful way to summarize certain information about bonding and may be thought of as “electron bookkeeping”. In Lewis dot structures each dot represents an electron. A pair of dots between chemical symbols for atoms represents a bond.

What is the molecular geometry for N2O4? ›

Thus, the molecule is planar (looking like two trigonal planar portions attached via the nitrogens) with each NO bond being between a single N-O bond and a double N=O. bond in strength.

How do you draw ion Lewis structures? ›

The steps to draw the Lewis dot structure of ionic compounds are as follows:
  1. Determine the total number of valence electrons.
  2. Select the central atom.
  3. Draw the skeletal structure.
  4. Determine the number of bonds in a molecule.
  5. Determine the number of electrons required for an atom to complete its octet.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Van Hayes

Last Updated:

Views: 6126

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Van Hayes

Birthday: 1994-06-07

Address: 2004 Kling Rapid, New Destiny, MT 64658-2367

Phone: +512425013758

Job: National Farming Director

Hobby: Reading, Polo, Genealogy, amateur radio, Scouting, Stand-up comedy, Cryptography

Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.