Nitrate, NO3−
- 24 total valence electrons
- Three N–O connections
- Three equivalent resonance placements
- Trigonal planar molecular geometry
- Average N–O bond order between single and double
Common ion comparison
Nitrate vs Nitrite Lewis Structure
Nitrate, NO3−, and nitrite, NO2−, differ by one oxygen atom and six valence electrons. That changes the number of resonance positions and the molecular geometry.
Nitrite, NO2−
- 18 total valence electrons
- Two N–O connections
- Two equivalent resonance placements
- Bent molecular geometry
- One nitrogen lone pair in the standard VSEPR count
Side-by-side comparison
| Property | Nitrate | Nitrite |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | NO3− | NO2− |
| Valence electrons | 24 | 18 |
| Oxygen positions | 3 | 2 |
| Resonance contributors | 3 equivalent bond placements | 2 equivalent bond placements |
| Shape | Trigonal planar | Bent |