Question

How do you find the oxidation number of `N` in `NO` (nitrogen oxide)?

Answer 1

`N` in `NO` has a formal oxidation number of `+II`

Explanation:

Since oxygen is slightly more electronegative than nitrogen, oxygen formally gets the electrons, to give `N^(2+)` and `O^(2-)`.

`NO` necessarily is a free radical (why necessarily?), and the single electron is placed on the nitrogen.