Nitrogen can have several different oxidation numbers ranging in value from -3 to +5. (a) Write the formula and give the name of the nitrogen oxide compound in which nitrogen has an oxidation number of +1, +2, +4, and +5.

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Identify the oxidation number of nitrogen in each compound.

For +1 oxidation state, consider the compound nitrous oxide (N2O).

For +2 oxidation state, consider the compound nitrogen monoxide (NO).

For +4 oxidation state, consider the compound nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

For +5 oxidation state, consider the compound dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Oxidation States

Oxidation states, or oxidation numbers, indicate the degree of oxidation of an atom in a compound. They are assigned based on a set of rules, reflecting the number of electrons an atom gains, loses, or shares when forming chemical bonds. For nitrogen, common oxidation states include -3, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, and +5, which are crucial for identifying the specific nitrogen oxides.

Nitrogen Oxides

Nitrogen oxides are a group of chemical compounds composed of nitrogen and oxygen. They are significant in both environmental chemistry and industrial applications. The most common nitrogen oxides include nitrous oxide (N2O), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4), each corresponding to different oxidation states of nitrogen.

Chemical Nomenclature

Chemical nomenclature is the systematic naming of chemical compounds based on their composition and structure. For nitrogen oxides, the naming convention often includes prefixes to indicate the number of nitrogen and oxygen atoms present. For example, NO is named nitrogen monoxide, while N2O4 is called dinitrogen tetroxide, reflecting the oxidation state of nitrogen in each compound.

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