Which bond is shorter

[Chalupa Batman]

Which bond is shorter and why?
A N-O single bond with some double bond characteristic as in N02
or a C-H bond

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[Hemorrage]

intuitively i would assume the N-O is shorter b/c of the double bond characteristics. As a general rule that always has to be true double bonds are shorter than single bonds regardless of the atoms involved

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

As a general rule that always has to be true double bonds are shorter than single bonds regardless of the atoms involved

Be careful with the word "always" here. As they say, you should never say always except sometimes.

Your rule is good if they are in the same period. But when dealing with atoms of different periods, the bond length depends on the atomic radii as much, if not more than the type of bond. For instance, a C=S double bond can range from 1.55 Angstroms to 1.61 Angstroms while a C-C single bond between two sp3-hybridized carbons typically falls around 1.42 Angstroms.

 

[sdm33]

Which bond is shorter and why?
A N-O single bond with some double bond characteristic as in N02
or a C-H bond
NO2 can be symmetric anion with equal N-O bond lengths, If we look at each N-O bond and compare it to C-H bond, then C-H bond will be shorter because smaller atoms make shorter bonds.

 

[Hemorrage]

Be careful with the word "always" here. As they say, you should never say always except sometimes.

Your rule is good if they are in the same period. But when dealing with atoms of different periods, the bond length depends on the atomic radii as much, if not more than the type of bond. For instance, a C=S double bond can range from 1.55 Angstroms to 1.61 Angstroms while a C-C single bond between two sp3-hybridized carbons typically falls around 1.42 Angstroms.

right! thats what i meant to say 👍

 

[Chalupa Batman]

Thanks!

Makes sense now. At first I thought that since NO had some double bond characteristic it was shorter but also though that H was smaller. Didnt know that atom size played a big role.
Now I know 🙂