Chapter 20, Problem 39PS

Dinitrogen monoxide, N₂O (commonly called nitrous oxide), is prepared by the careful decomposition of ammonium nitrate and is used as an oxidizing agent in rocket engines as well as a weak general anesthetic (where you may know it as “laughing gas”). However, it is also known to be a powerful greenhouse gas. In a Science magazine article, it was stated that “Human activities may be causing an unprecedented rise in the terrestrial N₂O source. Marine N₂O production may also rise substantially as result of eutrophication, warming and ocean acidification.” [L. A. Codispoti, Science, Vol. 327, pp. 1339-1340, 2010.]

The powerful greenhouse gas N₂O is used as a propellant in cans of instant whipped cream.

1. (a) Draw a Lewis electron dot structure for N₂O, and specify the formal charge on each atom and the molecular geometry.
2. (b) The atom connections are N—N—O. Why is the connection N—O—N not likely?

The highest N₂O concentration observed in the ocean is about 800 nM (nanomolar). At this concentration, what is the mass of N₂O per liter?