- A chemistry student five possible Lewis structures for thecyanate ion.
- Give a reason why structures (4) and (5) are wrong. (2)
- Calculate the formal charge of each individual atom anddetermine which structure is the preferred one. (11)
Structure 1
Atom | N | C | O |
Valence electrons | | | |
Bonding electrons | | | |
Nonbonding electrons | | | |
Formal Charge | | | |
Structure 2
Atom | N | C | O |
Valence electrons | | | |
Bonding electrons | | | |
Nonbonding electrons | | | |
Formal Charge | | | |
Structure 3
Atom | N | C | O |
Valence electrons | | | |
Bonding electrons | | | |
Nonbonding electrons | | | |
Formal Charge | | | |
            _____________________________________is the most stable structure.
            _____________________________________is the least stable structure.
