A simple way to draw the preferred Lewis electron dot structure for the nitrite anion. I simply draw the valence electrons around each atom and place the extra electron on an unpaired electron. When there’s more than one unpaired electron, I put it the most electronegative atom. Then, I form bonds to make each atom as “happy” as possible (ie. complete octet). 
I prefer this method to the “add up all valence electrons + add/subtract the charges + distribute accordingly” method that is often taught in general chemistry textbooks. This method doesn’t require math or memorization, and it helps you understand formal charges! Oh, it also helps you draw a preferred Lewis structure (with the least amount of formal charge separation) on the first try….. Try this method to draw the preferred structure for sulfate anion (SO42-).
Lewis Structure (6): Nitrite ion
Written by admin on July 31st, 2010 in Textbooks.
Tags: Lewis, Nitrite, Structure
@zaloniii
Do you mean so the two outer oxygen atoms bond in a triangular form? I think that due to the negative charge it can’t do that because one of the outer oxygen atoms will no longer have an available bonding electron available. Also, that bond angle is quite constricting, and probably isn’t very stable due to steric effects of the nearby atoms
Hey! Thanks. I got it but I was wondering, what if we join all the three with a single bond? It still gets satisfied with an octet! Would that be wrong?
thanks,, that was very good
thanks! this helped a lot!
thank you!
@4evercallalistathea They dont have 8 valence electrons.
this is making me more confust now my teacher taught it to me a different way but i still ended up with the same answer
wow, this is sooo much simpler when shown in video than trying to learn it by book. Also doesnt put me to sleep.
Thank you so much!!! I have been struggling with Lewis Structures of ions since grade ten and you have taught me how to draw them in 3 and a half minutes!
THANKKK YOUUU <3
You make it so much easier to comprehend this since you enunciate everything clearly. Thank you, this helped a lot.
Nice video but you still made a slip of the tongue at 3:00 where you say nitrate instead of nitrite…
thanks!
Thank You very much.
you teach much better than my chemistry teacher
rahaha nerd
Unpaired electrons are cool:)):P Can i sound geekier? I guess, geekiest….:))
where’s the 1 extra electron came from????
aw this is cute!
you should teach o chem in elementary school!
lol
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omg, nice video and effort but i want to get to the point :_(
thanks, well done!
gahh, i got this wrong on my quiz, wish i saw this last week! good vid
this is good, theres some other good videos on tutormetvdotcom. It helped me with my midterms
This was very helpful. I haven’t been able to find anything on the internet on how to draw a basic atom. You explain things very well. Can you do one of just basic chemistry- a basic drawing of an atom?