Skip to content

#lone pairs

13 public questions tagged with this topic.

What is the total number of lone pairs on the nitrogen atom in the HNO₃ molecule?

In HNO₃, nitrogen forms 3 bonds (1 double to O, 1 single to O, 1 single to OH), using all 5 valence electrons, leaving 0 lone pairs. This follows from latest NCERT 2026-27 principle explaining the concept clearly for NEET students in simple steps as per rationalized syllabus.

Ref: NCERT Chemistry Textbook - Latest Edition for Academic Session 2026-27 (Rationalized Textbook for Class XI and XII), Chapter: Chemical Bonding (Latest NCERT 2026-27), Topic: Hybridization of nitrogen in CH₃NH₂, sp³ hybridization and pyramidal geometry

The number of lone pairs on the central atom in XeF₂ is:

In XeF₂ , xenon has 8 valence electrons and forms 2 bonds (4 electrons used), leaving 4 electrons as 3 lone pairs. With sp³d hybridization, the 5 electron pairs (2 bonding, 3 lone) result in a trigonal bipyramidal electron geometry and a linear molecular shape.

Ref: NCERT Class 11 Chemistry > Chapter 4: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure > Topic: Valence Bond Theory and Hybridisation - sp sp2 sp3 dsp2