What is the difference between the nitrite ion and the nitrate ion?

1 Answer
anor277
Dec 10, 2015

#NO_2^-#, nitrite, versus #NO_3^-#, nitrate.

Explanation:

For both ions the negative charge is delocalized. The oxidation state of nitrogen in nitrite ion is #+III#; the oxidation state of nitrogen in nitrate is #+V#.

Nitrate ion is in fact a potent oxidant, but this potential is often masked in aqueous solution.

Related questions
See all questions in Polyatomic Ions
Impact of this question
7210 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License