Among the following sets of molecules, identify the set in which all the molecules are odd-electron species.

Step-by-step solution

An odd-electron species has an odd number of total valence electrons. Let us calculate the total valence electrons for the molecules in the first set: NO = 5 + 6 = 11 NO ₂ = 5 + 2(6) = 17 ClO ₂ = 7 + 2(6) = 19 Since all these molecules have an odd number of total valence electrons, they are all odd-electron species. For the molecules in the other sets: N ₂ O = 2(5) + 6 = 16 SO ₂ = 6 + 2(6) = 18 O ₃ = 3(6) = 18 CO = 4 + 6 = 10 Cl ₂ O = 2(7) + 6 = 20 These molecules have an even number of valence electrons, so they a