nitrous oxide molecule

[the guy]

can someone please explain to me the stucture and bonds of a nitrous oxide molecule, because some images i've seen show three bonds between the nitrogen atoms and one bond between the nitrogen and oxygen, whilst others show 2 bonds between both

 

infact more than that it doesnt seem to make sense with the amount of electrons on their outer shells, i know nitrogen can be confusing because it has 5 but this is more confusing than i thought :S

[granpa]

I have wondered the same thing

 

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=261728

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=2881210#post2881210

[mississippichem]

Both forms are correct as long as formal charges are adjusted accordingly. They are both resonance forms of the same molecule. Don't make the mistake of thinking the molecule cycles between resonance forms though. In reality, nitrous oxide exists as a "resonance hybrid" of the two forms. This is the result of the "de-localization" of electrons that exists in all systems involving [ce] \pi [/ce] bonds.

[the guy]

so there are essentially two types of nitrous oxide molecule is that what you're saying? are they both as common as each other and do they have the same chemical properties?

[Mr Skeptic]

They're both the same form, we just draw it as two because we can't properly draw partial bonds.

[the guy]

ah right ok thank you