How many resonance structures can be written for the NO₃^- ion in which the nitrogen atom bears a formal charge of +1? A)1 B)2 C)3 D)4 E)5

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To determine the number of resonance structures, we need to rearrange the atoms and electrons to form different Lewis structures while keeping the formal charge of nitrogen at +1. By doing so, we can obtain three resonance structures:
N^+ (=O)-S^- P=S^- (ionic)
N^+ (-O)=S^- P=S^- (ionic, slightly less favorable than the first one)
N=S^+ (-O)(-S)-P=S^- (covalent)
Thus, the answer is 3.

How Many Resonance Structures Can Be Written for the NO3-

How Many Resonance Structures Can Be Written for the NO₃^-