Asked by julie

Determine the molecular shape of each compound based on their Lewis structures.

NO2

bent

linear

trigonal planar

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Answer: bent.

Reason: NO2 has 17 valence electrons (odd), so the central N has two N–O bonds plus one unpaired electron — three electron domains total. That gives a trigonal‑planar electron geometry but a bent (angular) molecular shape because the unpaired electron behaves like a lone pair and distorts the bonding.