JEE Advanced2026ChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular StructureActual
The correct order of ONO bond angle in the given species is
Options
- ANO ₂^+ < NO ₂ < NO ₃^- < NO ₂^-
- BNO ₂^- < NO ₃^- < NO ₂ < NO ₂^+
- CNO ₃^- < NO ₂^- < NO ₂ < NO ₂^+
- DNO ₂^- < NO ₃^- < NO ₂^+ < NO ₂
Correct answer
B. NO ₂^- < NO ₃^- < NO ₂ < NO ₂^+
Step-by-step solution
For NO ₂^+ , the central nitrogen atom is sp hybridized with no lone pairs, resulting in a linear geometry and a bond angle of 180^ . For NO ₂ , the central nitrogen atom is sp^2 hybridized with one unpaired electron. The repulsion from a single electron is less than that from a bond pair, so the bond angle opens up to be greater than 120^ (approximately 134^ ). For NO ₃^- , the central nitrogen atom is sp^2 hybridized with no lone pairs, resulting in a trigonal planar geometry and a bond angle of exactly 120^ . Fo