N₂O₃, known as dinitrogen trioxide, is a covalent compound. This classification is based on the nature of the bond between the nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) atoms within the molecule.
Covalent bonds occur when two atoms share electrons. In the case of N₂O₃, nitrogen and oxygen are both nonmetals. The electronegativity difference between nitrogen and oxygen is not significant enough to result in an ionic bond, which typically occurs between metals and nonmetals with a substantial electronegativity difference.
In N₂O₃, each nitrogen atom shares electrons with oxygen atoms, forming bonds that are characteristic of covalent compounds. Moreover, the molecular structure and the way the atoms are bonded further support the covalent nature of this compound.
In summary, N₂O₃ is covalent due to the shared electron pairs between nitrogen and oxygen atoms, leading to a stable molecular configuration.