Question

What is the oxidation state of an individual nitrogen atom in nh4oh ? express the oxidation state numerically (e.g., +1)?

Answer 1

In NH4OH, the compounds that make it up are NH4+ and OH-
Therefore N exists in the ammonium form.
In the ammonium ion 4H atoms are connected to N. 
 N is more electronegative than H, therefore when H bonds to N, H is the more positive atom therefore each H has a charge of +1, since there are 4 H atoms the charge contributed by the 4H atoms are +1 * 4 = +4
the overall charge of NH4 is +1
Charge of N (+) +4 =  +1
Charge of N = +1 - 4
Therefore oxidation state of N in NH4 is  = -3