Resonance structure for NSO

Question

Draw atleast 3 resonance structures for NSO.

Answer 1

Do you mean NSO^- ?  If it is, then there are 18 electrons, 9 pairs.  If not, 17 electrons... then NSO is not stable.

 

First determine the central atom:

 

  N     S    O                    Find the most electropositive (less electronegative) atom and set it to be the central atom.

 

So let's find out the electronegativity of them:

 

N = 3.04 

S = 2.58

O = 3.44

 

So let's put S in the middle:

 

[ N   S   O ]^-    

 

Then we can have these resonance structures: 

You have to fill in the rest of the lone pairs and determine the formal charges of each atom in NSO^-

 

[ N=S-O ]^-

 

[ N-S=O ]^-

 

[ N=S=O ]^-

 

[ N=+-S-O ]^-    triple bond between N S

 

 

You can also put N as the central atom too, then we have

 

[ S=N-O ]^-

 

[ S-N=O ]^-

 

[ S=N=O ]^-

 

So, which resonance structure is the most stable?  Can you tell?

 

BTW, are you the Cody from MA