Question

adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone which plays a role in an animals fight - or - flight response to threats. it is also a medication used to treat allergic reactions and cardiac arrest.
the lewis structure of an adrenaline molecule is shown below, with one of the atoms replaced by an x.
complete the statement.
the missing atom in the adrenaline molecule is ______.
choose 1 answer:
h
c
n
o

Explanation:

Adrenaline (epinephrine) has the chemical formula \(C_9H_{13}NO_3\). In the Lewis structure, we need to consider the valence electrons and bonding patterns. Carbon (\(C\)) forms 4 bonds, hydrogen (\(H\)) forms 1 bond, oxygen (\(O\)) forms 2 bonds, and nitrogen (\(N\)) forms 3 bonds. Looking at the atom \(X\)'s bonding: it is bonded to one carbon atom. Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons and typically forms 3 bonds (it can also have a lone pair). In adrenaline, there is a nitrogen atom in its structure. Hydrogen would form only one bond (but the atom \(X\) is part of a more complex bonding in the context of the adrenaline molecule's known structure), carbon usually forms 4 bonds (and the bonding around \(X\) doesn't match carbon's typical 4 - bond pattern here as per adrenaline's structure), oxygen forms 2 bonds (the bonding around \(X\) doesn't fit oxygen's 2 - bond pattern as per adrenaline's structure).

Answer:

C. N