Question

The formal charges of $N_{\left(1\right)},N_{\left(2\right)}$ and $O$ atoms in $:\stackrel{..}{N_{\left(1\right)}}=N_{\left(2\right)}=\stackrel{..}{O}:$ are respectively

• A. $+1,-1,0$
• B. $-1,+1,0$
• C. $+1,+1,0$
• D. $-1,-1,0$

Answer 1

The correct option is B $-1,+1,0$

You can write this two ways:
$:N:::N:O:::$
That has a (+) on the middle nitrogen and a $(-)$ on the oxygen
Or you can write it as
$::N::N::O::$
That has a $(+)$ on the middle nitrogen and a $(-)$ on the left nitrogen. The first way is preferred because the oxygen (the more electronegative element) gets the negative charge.