In the lewis dot structure for NO2−, total number of valence electrons around nitrogen is ____
Answer: 8
Solution
In NO2− the nitrogen has one N=O double bond, one N−O single bond and one lone pair. The electrons around N are: 2 (lone pair) + 4 (double bond) + 2 (single bond) =8 valence electrons, completing the octet. Hence 8.