Why NO2 readily dimerise while nitric oxide does not?
Answers
Answer:
NO + NO →N2O2 (Doesn't dimerise)
NO2 +NO2 →N2O4 (Dimerise)
Explanation:
Dimerization is the process where to monomers unite to form a dimer.
The tendency of atoms in the molecules causes it to attain the lowest oxidation state, because a lower oxidation state provides more stability to that particular atom in the molecule.
NO2 contains odd number of valence electrons. That valence electron behaves as an odd electron molecule and therefore,undergoes dimerisation to form stable N2O4 molecule with even number of electrons.
In NO2, the oxidation state of Nitrogen is +4, hence it always makes an effort to reduce it's state to +1 or better to 0. Therefore, it combines with another NO2 molecule. Hence, NO2 dimerizes.
In the case of NO we have even electrons so it doesn't form dimers
Answer:
Explanation: NO also has odd number of electrons and the given answer is wrong. In the case of NO, the spin orbit interaction is weak and the two different j states have an energy difference much smaller than the room temperature. This gives rise to almost equal population of the two states and a dynamic equilibrium between the two states which prevents dimerization of NO.