The nitrate ion is a polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO3 and a molecular mass of 62.0049 g/mol.
It is the conjugate base of nitric acid, consisting of one central nitrogen atom surrounded by three identically-bonded oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement. The nitrate ion carries a formal charge of -1. This results from a combination formal charge in which each of the three oxygens carries a −⁄3 charge, whereas the nitrogen carrie...
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The nitrate ion is a polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO3 and a molecular mass of 62.0049 g/mol.
It is the conjugate base of nitric acid, consisting of one central nitrogen atom surrounded by three identically-bonded oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement. The nitrate ion carries a formal charge of -1. This results from a combination formal charge in which each of the three oxygens carries a −⁄3 charge, whereas the nitrogen carries a +1 charge, all these adding up to formal charge of the polyatomic nitrate ion.
This arrangement is commonly used as an example of resonance. Like the isoelectronic carbonate ion, the nitrate ion can be represented by resonance structures:
Almost all inorganic nitrate salts are soluble in water at standard temperature and pressure. A common example of an inorganic nitrate salt is potassium nitrate (saltpetre).
In organic chemistry a nitrate (not to be confused with Nitro or Nitrite) is a relatively rare functional group with general...
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