Among the compounds shown below which one revealed a linear structure?

Question

Canvas Classes · Accepted Answer

🧠 Predicting Geometry
Molecular structure is all about the "dance" of lone pairs and bond pairs. For a structure to be truly linear (), the central atom must usually be  hybridized or have a very specific lone pair arrangement.

🗺️ Analyzing the Candidates
- (a)  (Nitrous Oxide): The structure is . The central nitrogen is  hybridized with no lone pairs on it (it donates its lone pair to oxygen). This results in a perfectly Linear structure. 
- (b)  (Nitrogen Dioxide): Nitrogen has an unpaired

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