JEE Main · 2021 · 17 Mar 2021 · Shift 2 · Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Using VSEPR theory: ${\mathrm{O}}_3$ is bent (central O has one lone pair), ${\mathrm{Cl}}_2\mathrm{O}$ is bent (O has two lone pairs), ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ is bent (N has one unpaired electron), and ${\mathrm{N}}_3^{-}$ (azide ion) is linear with structure $\mathrm{N}={\mathrm{N}}^{+}={\mathrm{N}}^{-}$ (sp hybridization on central N, no lone pairs affecting geometry). Therefore, ${\mathrm{N}}_3^{-}$ is the linear species.