Aqueous solutions of ammonia 1NH32 and bleach (active ingredient NaOCl) are sold as cleaning fluids, but bottles of both of them warn: 'Never mix ammonia and bleach, as toxic gases may be produced.' One of the toxic gases that can be produced is chloroamine, NH2Cl. (e) Is N oxidized, reduced, or neither, upon the conversion of ammonia to nitrogen trichloride?

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Identify the oxidation state of nitrogen in ammonia (NH_3).

Determine the oxidation state of nitrogen in nitrogen trichloride (NCl_3).

Compare the oxidation states of nitrogen in NH_3 and NCl_3.

If the oxidation state of nitrogen increases, it is oxidized; if it decreases, it is reduced; if it remains the same, it is neither.

Conclude whether nitrogen is oxidized, reduced, or neither based on the change in oxidation state.

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Key Concepts

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

Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation and reduction are chemical processes that involve the transfer of electrons between substances. Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons, resulting in an increase in oxidation state, while reduction involves the gain of electrons, leading to a decrease in oxidation state. Understanding these concepts is crucial for determining the changes in oxidation states of elements during chemical reactions.

Oxidation States

Oxidation states (or oxidation numbers) are assigned to atoms in a compound to indicate their degree of oxidation or reduction. The oxidation state of an element in a compound can help track electron transfer during reactions. For example, in the conversion of ammonia to nitrogen trichloride, analyzing the oxidation states of nitrogen can reveal whether it is oxidized or reduced.

Chloroamines Formation

Chloroamines are a class of compounds formed when ammonia reacts with chlorine-containing agents, such as bleach. The formation of chloroamines involves the substitution of hydrogen atoms in ammonia with chlorine atoms, which can lead to the release of toxic gases. Understanding the chemistry of chloroamines is essential for assessing the safety and risks associated with mixing ammonia and bleach.

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Enthalpy of Formation

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Textbook Question

Aqueous solutions of ammonia (NH₃) and bleach (active ingredient NaOCl) are sold as cleaning fluids, but bottles of both of them warn: 'Never mix ammonia and bleach, as toxic gases may be produced.' One of the toxic gases that can be produced is chloroamine, NH₂Cl. (a) What is the oxidation number of chlorine in bleach? (active ingredient NaOCl) are sold as cleaning fluids, but bottles of both of them warn: “Never mix ammonia and bleach, as toxic gases may be produced.” One of the toxic gases that can be produced is chloroamine, NH₂Cl. (b) What is the oxidation number of chlorine in chloramine? (d) Another toxic gas that can be produced is nitrogen trichloride, NCl₃. What is the oxidation number of N in nitrogen trichloride?

Textbook Question

Cytochrome, a complicated molecule that we will represent as CyFe2+, reacts with the air we breathe to supply energy required to synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The body uses ATP as an energy source to drive other reactions (Section 19.7). At pH 7.0 the following reduction potentials pertain to this oxidation of CyFe2+: O21g2 + 4 H+1aq2 + 4 e- ¡ 2 H2O1l2 Ered ° = +0.82 V CyFe3+1aq2 + e- ¡ CyFe2+1aq2 E°red = +0.22 V (a) What is ∆G for the oxidation of CyFe2+ by air? (b) If the synthesis of 1.00 mol of ATP from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) requires a ∆G of 37.7 kJ, how many moles of ATP are synthesized per mole of O2?

Textbook Question

Cytochrome, a complicated molecule that we will represent as CyFe2+, reacts with the air we breathe to supply energy required to synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The body uses ATP as an energy source to drive other reactions (Section 19.7). At pH 7.0 the following reduction potentials pertain to this oxidation of CyFe2+: O21g2 + 4 H+1aq2 + 4 e- ¡ 2 H2O1l2 Ered ° = +0.8 (b) If the synthesis of 1.00 mol of ATP from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) requires a ∆G of 37.7 kJ, how many moles of ATP are synthesized per mole of O2?