Question

The oxidation numbers of nitrogen in NH4+, N2O5, and NaNO3 are, respectively:

Answer 1

Answer: Option (b) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

It is known that general charge on a hydrogen atom is +1, oxygen atom is -2, and sodium atom is +1.

Hence, oxidation number of nitrogen atom in the given species or compounds is as follows.

• $NH^{+}_{4}$

                     x + 4(1) = 1

                         x = 1 - 4

                            = -3

• $N_{2}O_{5}$

                       2x + 5(-2) = 0         (since total charge on the molecule is zero)

                          x = +5

• $NaNO_{3}$

                      1 + x + 3(-2) = 0

                            x = +5

Thus, we can conclude that the oxidation numbers of nitrogen in NH4+, N2O5, and NaNO3 are -3, +5, +5 respectively.

Answer 2

-III I
 NH₄⁺

V  -II
N₂O₅

I   V -II
NaNO₃
-----------------------

-3  +5  +5