Sodium azide is a shock-sensitive compound that releases N2 upon physical impact. The compound is used in automobile airbags. The azide ion is N3-. (a) Draw the Lewis structure of the azide ion that minimizes formal charge (it does not form a triangle). Is it linear or bent?

Key Concepts

Lewis Structures

Lewis structures are diagrams that represent the bonding between atoms in a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist. They help visualize the arrangement of electrons and the connectivity of atoms, allowing for the determination of molecular geometry and formal charges. In the case of the azide ion (N3-), drawing the correct Lewis structure is essential to understand its stability and reactivity.

Formal Charge

Formal charge is a theoretical charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, calculated based on the number of valence electrons, the number of non-bonding electrons, and half the number of bonding electrons. It helps in assessing the most stable Lewis structure by minimizing the formal charges across the molecule. For the azide ion, minimizing formal charge is crucial to determine the most favorable electron distribution.

Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule, which is influenced by the repulsion between electron pairs according to VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory. The azide ion's geometry can be determined from its Lewis structure, indicating whether it is linear or bent. In the case of N3-, the arrangement is linear due to the presence of triple bonds between nitrogen atoms.