Diazomethane Resonance: Lewis Structure Soln

[runningman19]

Homework Statement

Which is an acceptable Lewis structure for Diazomethane?

Homework Equations

None

The Attempt at a Solution

The answer cannot be C or D, as both of these resonance structures are incorrect. I thought the answer was A, given that nitrogen is more electronegative than carbon, which would mean that a negative formal charge is more stable on nitrogen. This is not the case, the answer is actually B.

 

[Ygggdrasil]

Count the electrons around each nitrogen in A.

 

[runningman19]

It has 4 bonds and 1 lone pair. I believe that I read somewhere that nitrogen cannot have 4 bonds and a lone pair. Is that correct?

 

[Ygggdrasil]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octet_rule