The Lewis Dot Structure for NO2+

Created by MakeTheBrainHappy

Please find the Lewis Dot Structure for NO2+ (also known as nitronium ion) shown above. As with all other Lewis Dot Structures the bonds within the structure can be replaced by two dots. Both of the oxygen's on the ends of NO2+ contain two lone pairs of electrons and are chemically neutral. The +1 positive charge within NO2+ is present on the central nitrogen atom which is the least electronegative species in the molecule (3.04 vs. oxygen's 3.44).

The presence of this positive charge induces a quite strong attraction for the molecule as a whole to balance this out either with a negatively charged cation or with an extra electron. In fact the NO2 neutral species with an extra electron tacked onto the nitrogen is quite unique in its stability when compared to similar molecules with electrons lacking a pair. If you are interested in learning more about the reaction for forming NO2+, then I would highly recommend this recently published video lecturing on aromatic ring substitution. 

Different kinds of nitrated benzene rings. Source

This principle brings us to the second stable conformation of NO2+. As the Lewis Dot Structure reveals, the compound would not exist in a stable form and requires negative charge to balance it out. This can often be supplied by a negative cation such as PF6-, forming a stable nitronium salt. These salts are most often utilized in order to add NO2 species to other molecules such as the benzene rings shown in the diagram above. Researchers in that lab attempted to add NO2 species to benzene rings under different acidic conditions to understand which would be most effective at producing different results.

Is NO2+ polar or nonpolar?

If you are interested in learning more about this subject, your in luck! We've written an entire article regarding this subject: https://www.makethebrainhappy.com/2020/04/is-no2-polar-or-nonpolar.html. The interesting properties result from the complex interaction between its structure as determined by polarity and its status as a cation. This again goes back to the structure as elucidated by the Lewis Dot Structure for NO2+.