Question #a37af

1 Answer
Apr 7, 2014

H = +1
O = -2
and so now we have 1 +3(-2)=-5, so the N must be +5.

From the rules of oxidation numbers, H is +1 when attached to a nonmetal, O is usually -2 and when you add up those numbers you get -5 (since there are 3 oxygens). So, in order for the overall charge to be 0, N = +5