New Nitrogen Oxide Compound

Chemists already know about a number of compounds composed of nitrogen and oxygen:

• Nitric oxide is a colourless gas which is produced during the combustion of fossil fuels. It has a melting point of -163.6^oC, a boiling point of -150.8^oC, and rapidly oxidizes in air to form nitrogen dioxide. Its solubility in water is 7.4ml/100ml.
  
• Nitrogen dioxide is a reddish-brown toxic gas. Its melting point is -11.2^oC and its boiling point is 21.1^oC. It reacts with water to produce nitric acid.
• Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas commonly referred to as laughing gas. It is a greenhouse gas and also causes ozone depletion. Its melting point is -90.86^oC and its boiling point is -88.48^oC. Its solubility in water is 0.15g/100ml.
• Dinitrogen trioxide is a deep blue liquid at low temperatures. It has a melting point of -100.1^oC, a boiling point of 3^oC , and is very soluble in water.
• Dinitrogen tetroxide is a colourless liquid which is a powerful oxidizing agent and highly toxic. Its melting point is -11.2^oC, its boiling point is 21.1^oC, and it reacts with water to produce both nitrous aid and nitric acid.
• Dinitrogen pentoxide exists as colourless crystals. It is unstable and potentially dangerous oxidizer. It has a melting point of 30^oC and it sublimes at 47^oC. Dinitrogen pentoxide reacts with water to produce nitric acid.
  

Chemists at the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden have discovered a new molecule in this nitrogen oxide group. The new molecule, composed only of nitrogen and oxygen, is called trinitramid. Trinitramid has the chemical formula N(NO₂)₃ and is shaped like a propeller.

Reference
Martin Rahm, Sergey V. Dvinskikh, István Furó, Tore Brinck. Experimental Detection of Trinitramide, N(NO₂)₃. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2011; (forthcoming)

Further Reading
Molecular Mass
Percentage Composition
Definitions of a Mole
Mass-Mole Calculations
Lewis Structures
Intermolecular Forces

Study Questions

1. Give the chemical formula for each of the following molecules:
   • nitric oxide
   • nitrogen dioxide
   • nitrous oxide
   • dinitrogen trioxide
   • dinitrogen pentoxide
2. Calculate the molecular mass (formula weight) of each of the molecules above.
3. Calculate the percentage composition of each of the molecules above.
4. Draw a Lewis Structure (electron dot diagram) for each of the molecules above.
5. Use the information in the article above, as well as your calculations, tabulate the melting points, boiling points and solubility of each molecule.
6. Graph melting points and boiling points against molecular mass.
   
7. Can you identify any trends in the melting points, boiling points, or solubilities of these molecules? Explain any trends you identify.
8. So far, scientists have only produced enough trinitramid to detect it. What do you predict its melting point, boiling point and solubility in water to be? Explain your answer.