Solve Octet/Duet Rule Equation: NOCl?? | Answer

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In summary, to determine the missing subscript for the compound NOCl??, you need to use the octet rule and duet rule. Drawing a Lewis dot structure can help determine a reasonable oxidation number, which can then be used to balance the total negative charge with positive.
  • #1
hockeyfghts5
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Homework Statement



Using your knowledge of the octet rule and the duet rule, determine the missing subscript (??) for the compound below.

NOCl??

What is a good way of solving this type of equation and what is the answer. I figure you need to draw a Lewis dot structure but knowing what else is need i don't know.
 
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  • #2
hockeyfghts5 said:

Homework Statement



Using your knowledge of the octet rule and the duet rule, determine the missing subscript (??) for the compound below.

NOCl??

...I figure you need to draw a Lewis dot structure...

Yes, try that. You should be able to determine a reasonable oxidation number. Once you have that, balance the total negative charge with positive.
 
  • #3


The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a stable outer electron configuration of eight valence electrons. The duet rule applies to hydrogen and states that it tends to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a stable outer electron configuration of two valence electrons. In NOCl, the central atom, nitrogen, has five valence electrons and needs three more to achieve an octet. Chlorine has seven valence electrons and needs one more to achieve an octet. Therefore, the subscript for NOCl would be 3. This means that there are three chlorine atoms bonded to one nitrogen atom, each sharing one electron to form three covalent bonds and fulfilling the octet rule for both atoms. The Lewis dot structure for NOCl would look like this:

N: 1 bond (with one Cl), 3 lone pairs
O: 0 bonds, 6 lone pairs
Cl: 1 bond (with N), 3 lone pairs

To solve this type of equation, you can follow these steps:
1. Determine the number of valence electrons for each atom in the compound.
2. Draw the Lewis dot structure for each atom, indicating the number of bonds and lone pairs.
3. Determine the number of bonds needed to fulfill the octet rule for each atom.
4. Add up the total number of bonds needed for all atoms.
5. Subtract the number of existing bonds from the total number of needed bonds. The difference will give you the number of bonds that need to be formed.
6. Divide this number by 2 to get the subscript for the compound.

In this case, since there are 3 bonds needed and each bond consists of 2 electrons, the subscript for NOCl is 3.

I hope this helps!
 

FAQ: Solve Octet/Duet Rule Equation: NOCl?? | Answer

1. What is the octet/duet rule?

The octet/duet rule is a principle in chemistry that states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a stable electron configuration with eight valence electrons (or two for hydrogen and helium).

2. How does the octet/duet rule apply to NOCl?

NOCl is a molecule composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and chlorine atoms. Each of these atoms has a valence shell with a different number of electrons, and in order to follow the octet/duet rule, they must gain, lose, or share electrons to reach a stable configuration.

3. What is the equation for solving the octet/duet rule for NOCl?

The equation for solving the octet/duet rule for NOCl is: N + 3(6) + 7 = 8(5) + 8, where N represents the number of valence electrons for nitrogen, 3 represents the number of oxygen atoms, 6 represents the number of valence electrons for oxygen, 7 represents the number of chlorine atoms, and 5 represents the number of valence electrons for chlorine.

4. How does the octet/duet rule affect the formation of chemical bonds in NOCl?

The octet/duet rule affects the formation of chemical bonds in NOCl by guiding the sharing or transfer of electrons between atoms. In the case of NOCl, nitrogen shares three electrons with each oxygen atom, and one electron with the chlorine atom, in order to achieve a stable configuration.

5. Can the octet/duet rule be violated in NOCl?

Yes, the octet/duet rule can be violated in NOCl. This is because the octet/duet rule is a general guideline, and there are exceptions due to certain elements having incomplete or expanded valence shells. In NOCl, nitrogen has an expanded valence shell with 10 electrons instead of 8, violating the octet/duet rule. However, this is still a stable configuration for nitrogen due to its high electronegativity.

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