Question

Which of the following statements regarding nitrogen sesquioxide is not correct?
(A) Dinitrogen sesquioxide is stable only in the liquid state. It dissociated in the vapour phase.
(B) Dinitrogen sesquioxide is a neutral oxide.
(C) Dinitrogen sesquioxide contains a weak N-N bond.
(D) Dinitrogen sesquioxide exists in two different crystalline forms.

Answer 1

Hint: Dinitrogen sesquioxide is the chemical name of trioxide of dinitrogen. Its chemical formula is ${N_2}{O_3}$. It is a deep blue solid. It is highly a toxic compound and is very irritating to mucous membranes.

Complete step by step answer:
Dinitrogen trioxide is produced as an anhydride when the unstable nitrous acid is mixed in water. If nitrous acid (\[HN{O_2}\]) is not used quickly it can decompose into nitric acid and nitric oxide. As it is produced from an acid the oxide is acidic in nature.
​\[{N_2}{O_3}\, + {H_2}O \to 2HN{O_2}\]
The molecule of Dinitrogen Trioxide is planar and it exhibits Cs symmetry. Generally, \[N-N\] bonds have similarity in length with that of hydrazine \[\left( {145{\text{ }}pm} \right)\]. While in the case of Dinitrogen trioxide, it unusually has a long \[N-N\] bond length. The bond length is\[186{{ }}pm\].
Dinitrogen trioxide is (${N_2}{O_3}$) isolable at low temperatures only i.e. in the liquid and solid states. At higher temperatures the equilibrium shifts to favour the constituent gases.
There are two isomeric forms of this dinitrogen trioxide that exist. Due to the long bond length between the nitrogen atoms the \[N-N\] bond is weak in nature.
The vapors of Dinitrogen trioxide are very toxic. It is widely used in certain purpose fuels due to its highly combustible nature. It is also used as an oxidizing agent with other chemical compounds.
Hence, Dinitrogen sesquioxide is not a neutral oxide. This statement is wrong.

Therefore, Option (B) is correct.

Note:
Being a toxic and Corrosive compound Nitrogen trioxide can be fatal if it is absorbed through the skin or inhaled directly into the body. When it is heated, it produces irritating, corrosive, toxic gases.