(a) Photochemical smog is formed, in part, by the action of light on nitrogen dioxide. The wavelength of the radiation absorbed by NO₂ in this reaction is 197 nm.

Draw the Lewis structure for NO₂ and sketch its π molecular orbitals.

(b) When 1.56 mJ of energy is absorbed by 3.0 L of air at 20. 8C and 0.91 atm, all the NO₂ molecules in this sample are dissociated by the reaction just shown. Assume that each photon absorbed results in the dissociation (into NO and O) of one NO₂ molecule. What is the proportion, in parts per million, of NO₂ molecules in this sample? Assume that the sample is behaving ideally.

Transcribed Image Text:

NO₂ hv NO + O