What is the oxidation number of nitrogen in ammonia, ammonium ion, and nitrate ion?

1 Answer
Aug 2, 2017

We gots IIIN..........

Explanation:

While oxidation number is a formalism, it is a convenient formalism. For ions and molecules, the SUM of the oxidation numbers ALWAYS equals the charge on the ion.

TO illustrate, let's take NH3, NH+4, and NO3; now hydrogen and oxygen in their compounds typically take oxidation numbers of +I and II respectively, and they do here.......

ANd thus for ammonia, 3×(+I)+oxidation numberN=0. Clearly we gots -IIIN.

And for ammonium, 4×(+I)+oxidation numberN=+1. Clearly we gots -IIIN again.

But for nitrate ion, oxygen is MORE electronegative than nitrogen, and it gets the electrons, 3×(II)+oxidation numberN=1. Clearly we gots +VN.

Capisce?

What about NO, NO2, N2O5, N2O4?