Question

The decreasing order of bond angle is
A. `NO_2gtNO_2^(+)gtNO_2^-`
B. `NO_2^(-)gtNO_2 gt NO_2^(+)`
C. `NO_2^(+)gt NO_2 gt NO_2^(-)`
D. `NO_2^(+)gt NO_2^(-)gt NO_2`

Answer 1

Correct Answer - C
Bond angle is maximum in `NO_2^(+) NO_2` in a resonance hybrid of following two structures :

`NO_2^(-)`, has a structure similar to `NO_2` but in this case N has a lone pair of electrons. As such the O-N-O bond angle is less in case of `NO_2^(-)` than in `NO_2`