What is the Difference Between Nitrogen Monoxide and Dinitrogen Pentoxide?

Nitrogen monoxide (NO) and dinitrogen pentoxide (N₂O₅) are two chemical compounds containing nitrogen and oxygen. The key differences between them are:

1. Chemical Formula: Nitrogen monoxide has the chemical formula NO, while dinitrogen pentoxide has the chemical formula N₂O₅.
2. Number of Atoms: Nitrogen monoxide consists of one nitrogen atom and one oxygen atom, whereas dinitrogen pentoxide contains two nitrogen atoms and five oxygen atoms.
3. Physical State: Nitrogen monoxide is a colorless gas, while dinitrogen pentoxide exists as colorless crystals that sublime slightly above room temperature, yielding a colorless gas.
4. Molecular Shape: Nitrogen monoxide has a linear molecular shape, while dinitrogen pentoxide has a planar molecular shape.
5. Production: Nitrogen monoxide can be produced via the oxidation of ammonia at 850 °C in the presence of a platinum catalyst. Dinitrogen pentoxide is produced by dehydrating nitric acid with phosphorus pentoxide.
6. Reactivity: Dinitrogen pentoxide is an unstable and potentially dangerous oxidizer that reacts with water to give nitric acid and can decompose into NO₂ and O₂ at room temperature. Nitrogen monoxide, on the other hand, is a stable compound and does not exhibit such reactivity.

Comparative Table: Nitrogen Monoxide vs Dinitrogen Pentoxide

Here is a table comparing the differences between Nitrogen Monoxide (NO) and Dinitrogen Pentoxide (N₂O₅):

Nitrogen Monoxide and Dinitrogen Pentoxide are both inorganic compounds containing nitrogen and oxygen. However, they have different chemical formulas, molecular structures, production methods, and numbers of nitrogen and oxygen atoms.