How do you find the oxidation number of nitrogen in these molecules?

#HNO_3#
#N_2H_4#
#NO_2^+#
#N_2#
#NO_2^-#
#NO_2#
#N_2O_4#
#N_2O#
#NO#

1 Answer
Oct 27, 2016

#HNO_3# #"Nitrogen +V"#

Explanation:

#N_2H_4,# #"Nitrogen -II"#

#NO_2^+,# #"Nitrogen +V"#

#N_2,# #"Nitrogen 0"#

#NO_2^-,# #"Nitrogen +III"#

#NO_2,# #"Nitrogen +IV"#

#N_2H_4,# #"Nitrogen -II"#

#N_2O,# #"Nitrogen +I"#, #N-=N^(+)-O^(-)#, the terminal nitrogen is zerovalent, and the central #N# is #+II#, i.e. average #+I# state.

#N_2O_4,# #"Nitrogen +IV"#

#NO,# #"Nitrogen +II"#

I think I have got these right. Oxygen is more electronegative than nitrogen so it gets the electric charge in determining oxidation state.