Which of the following statements correctly describes the resonance structures of the nitric acid molecule, HNO3 (NO2OH)?

• A. Resonance in nitric acid involves delocalization of electrons between the nitrogen and hydrogen atoms.
• B. Nitric acid has resonance structures in which the negative charge is delocalized over both oxygen atoms bonded to nitrogen.
• C. All resonance structures of nitric acid place a double bond between nitrogen and the hydroxyl oxygen.
• D. Nitric acid has only one possible Lewis structure with no resonance.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what resonance structures represent. Resonance structures are different Lewis structures for the same molecule that show the delocalization of electrons, typically involving pi bonds and lone pairs, without changing the positions of atoms.
2. Step 2: Identify the key atoms involved in resonance in nitric acid (HNO3). Focus on the nitrogen and the oxygen atoms bonded to it, especially the two oxygens that are not part of the hydroxyl group (OH).
3. Step 3: Recognize that resonance in nitric acid involves the shifting of pi electrons and negative charge between the two oxygen atoms bonded to nitrogen, not between nitrogen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is bonded to the hydroxyl oxygen and does not participate in resonance with nitrogen.
4. Step 4: Note that in resonance structures of nitric acid, the double bond between nitrogen and one of the oxygens shifts between the two oxygens bonded to nitrogen, while the hydroxyl oxygen remains bonded by a single bond and does not have a double bond with nitrogen in any resonance form.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct description of resonance in nitric acid is that the negative charge and double bond character are delocalized over the two oxygen atoms bonded to nitrogen, and the hydroxyl oxygen does not form a double bond with nitrogen in any resonance structure.