The bond angle for the C-N-O bonds in the following molecule would be expected to be approximately:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The C-N and N-O bonds are both polar, with nitrogen and oxygen being more electronegative than carbon. Therefore, there will be some electron density around the nitrogen and oxygen atoms, causing a repulsion between the lone pairs on nitrogen and oxygen. This will push the C-N-O bond angles apart slightly, making them larger than the ideal angle of 109.5° for tetrahedral geometry. Since there are three atoms bonded to the central carbon atom in this molecule, the expected bond angle for each C-N-O bond is 120° (option C).

The Bond Angle for the C-N-O Bonds in the Following °\degree°

The Bond Angle for the C-N-O Bonds in the Following $\degree$