Answers:

1. What is the molecular formula for JWH-018?

C₂₄H₂₃NO

2. How many of the atoms in JWH-018 are sp-hybridized? sp²? sp³?

sp: 0

sp²: 19 carbons; the oxygen is also sp²

sp³: 5 carbons; the nitrogen is also sp³

3. What is the formal charge of the nitrogen atom?

Nitrogen is in column 5.

It has 3 bonds (6 electrons) and 1 one non-bonded pair of electrons to complete the octet.

Calculating: column – bonds – non-bonded electrons: 5 – 3 – 2 = 0

The nitrogen atom has a formal charge of 0.

4. What is the correct geometry for the nitrogen atom? Is it drawn accurately?

3 atoms directly attached to the N plus 1 non-bonded pair (omitted from the drawing)

3+1 = 4; sp³ which means tetrahedral geometry

No, the drawing is not three dimensionally accurate. The bond of the chain on the left would be drawn either into the paper away from us or out of the paper toward us. For example: