JEE Main · 2021 · Shift-IIeasyBOND-023

Amongst the following, the linear species is:

Chemical Bonding · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

Amongst the following, the linear species is:

Options
  1. a

    NO2\mathrm{NO_2}

  2. b

    Cl2O\mathrm{Cl_2O}

  3. c

    O3\mathrm{O_3}

  4. d

    N3\mathrm{N_3^-}

Correct Answerd

N3\mathrm{N_3^-}

Detailed Solution

🧠 Linear geometry: central atom has no lone pairs and 2 bond groups (sp hybridised), or 2 bonds + 3 lone pairs (also linear, e.g. \ceI3\ce{I3-}). Check each.

  • \ceNO2\ce{NO2}: N has 2 bonds + 1 odd electron ≈ 3 groups → bent ✗
  • \ceCl2O\ce{Cl2O}: O central, 2 bonds + 2 LP = 4 groups → bent ✗
  • \ceO3\ce{O3}: central O, 2 bonds + 1 LP = 3 groups → bent ✗
  • \ceN3\ce{N3-}: central N has 2 double bonds + 0 lone pair = 2 groups → linear (sp) ✓

\ceN3\ce{N3-} (azide) is isoelectronic with \ceCO2\ce{CO2}: [N=N=N]⁻ — 2 double bonds, 0 LP on central N → strictly linear.

Answer: (d) \ceN3\boxed{\text{Answer: (d) } \ce{N3-}}

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