What is the hybridization of the central atom (nitrogen) in NOCl?

• A. sp
• B. dsp^2
• C. sp^3
• D. sp^2

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the central atom in the molecule NOCl, which is nitrogen (N).
2. Determine the number of valence electrons around the nitrogen atom. Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons.
3. Draw the Lewis structure of NOCl to see how nitrogen is bonded to oxygen and chlorine, and count the regions of electron density (bonding and lone pairs) around nitrogen.
4. Count the total number of electron regions around nitrogen. Each single bond, double bond, or lone pair counts as one region of electron density.
5. Use the steric number (number of electron regions) to determine the hybridization: 3 regions correspond to sp\^2 hybridization.