What is the correct structure for the $\ce{NO2}$ compound (not ion)? I always thought it was like:
since the negative charge would be residing the on the highly electronegative oxygen, but was reading this blogpost by the guys at WolframAlpha, who state that contrary to popular belief, the correct structure is actually:
They explain that it has to do with molecular orbital theory, but don't explain in depth.
Can someone please explain why this occurs?
Answer
Drawings of molecules are only representations to help us understand them, not the actual molecule itself. So both pictures you have there are correct; they both contribute to the actual structure of the $\ce{NO2}$ molecule. I'm guessing WolframAlpha chose the structure they did because it is the structure the most contributes to the actual structure of the molecule, with all formal charges being 0 like Nicolau said, it is the most 'favorable' of possible configurations that the molecule could be in.
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