Answer
See the explanation
Work Step by Step
1. a. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) dimerizes to produce dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4):
Reactant (Nitrogen dioxide, NO2):
Lewis structure:
O=N-O
Product (Dinitrogen tetroxide, N2O4):
Lewis structure:
O=N-O-N=O
The reaction occurs because nitrogen dioxide has an unpaired electron on the nitrogen atom, making it a free radical. To achieve a more stable configuration, two nitrogen dioxide molecules can combine, sharing their unpaired electrons and forming a covalent bond between the nitrogen atoms, resulting in the formation of dinitrogen tetroxide.
b. Boron trihydride (BH3) accepts a pair of electrons from ammonia (NH3), forming BH3NH3:
Reactant (Boron trihydride, BH3):
Lewis structure:
H-B-H
H
Reactant (Ammonia, NH3):
Lewis structure:
H-N-H
H
Product (BH3NH3):
Lewis structure:
H-B-H
|
N-H
H
This reaction occurs because boron trihydride has only six valence electrons, making it an electron-deficient species. Ammonia, with its lone pair of electrons, can donate these electrons to the boron atom, forming a coordinate covalent bond and resulting in the stable BH3NH3 complex.
