Question

What is the molecular structure of `"nitrous oxide"`, `N_2O`?

Answer 1

`"Nitrous oxide"` is linear.

Explanation:

And how do we know? Well, by experiment, and measurement, but VESPER gives a good approximation. We have `2xx5+6=16` `"valence electrons"` to distribute over 3 centres.

A structure of `N-=N^(+)-O^(-)` is reasonable, even tho it invokes formal charge separation. Its resonance structure of `""^(-)N=N^(+)=O` is formally equivalent. Disregarding the multiple bonds, there are 2 regions of electron density around the central nitrogen, and VESPER would predict that `/_O-N-O=180^@`, and experiment confirms this.

Answer 2

It's a linear...

Explanation:

It has a big explanation cause it needs the electrically neutrality. But it's structure is like this. It's one of the 8 Lewis structures it can have:
`.^(-)N = N^+ = O`