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.

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