How do you draw the lewis structure for NO₂?

Steps to draw the lewis structure

1. Find the total number of electrons of the valance shells of nitrogen and oxygen atoms
2. Total electrons pairs
3. Center atom selection
4. Put lone pairs on atoms
5. Check the stability and minimize charges on atoms by converting lone pairs to bonds.

Here NO2

• Total valence electrons given by nitrogen atom = 5
• Total valence electrons given by oxygen atoms = 6 x 2 = 12
• Total valence electrons = 5 + 12 = 17
• Total valance electrons pairs = σ bonds + π bonds + lone pairs at valence shells. Nitrogen has the more chance to be the centre atom. Total pairs of electrons are 8 and one electron exists as unpaired electron because 17 cannot be divided exactly by 2.
• Nitrogen has the more chance to be the centre atom
• Mark unpaired electron on nitrogen atom.
• Both oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms have charges.