What is the oxidation number of nitrogen in #NO_2#?

1 Answer
Jan 6, 2017

#"N(+IV)"#.

Explanation:

Oxidation number is the charge left on the central atom when all the bonding pairs of electrons are broken, with the charge assigned to the most electronegative atom.

Do this for #"NO"_2#, and we get #"N(+IV)"#.

Can you determine oxidation numbers for nitrogen in #"N"_2"O"_5#, #"NO"#, and #"N"_2"O"#?