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alancj
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I worked on this problem for quite a while last night and I'm not at all sure if my answers are correct. This is the problem I’ve been given:
I know nitrogen exists in the 3-, 3+ and 5+ oxidation states. I would think that they would give me at least one of each. I'm REALLY not sure about b, c, and d.
For b. I don't really know how to handle the 1- charge. Since the N in NO2 is 3+ normally, I figured that maybe the extra charge makes it 5+ (since there is no 4+ state).
For c. my first thought was "for which nitrogen?" I would think one N would be 3+ and the other 3-. Should I give my answer for both?
For d. I reasoned that it was similar to b. except that instead of being a 1- ion it has a chloride attached, so I gave it the same oxidation # (5+) as b.
I’m more confident that I have a. and e. right though I wouldn’t bet my life on it.
My chemistry book doesn't really seem to address this very much. At least not in the form of this problem... If it does I must be missing it. I have read every one of the first 375 pages in the book, 14 chapters, and I am now on my mid-term exam for those chapters. So this info should be in the pages I've already read.
So, does anyone know what I’m getting right or wrong? Some help for any that I got wrong would be great.
Thanks,
Alan
Determine the oxidation number for nitrogen in each of the following
[tex]a: NH_{3}[/tex] my answer: 3+
[tex]b: [NO_{2}]^1-[/tex] my answer: 5+
[tex]c: N_{2}[/tex] my answer: 3+
[tex]d: NO_{2}Cl[/tex] my answer: 5+
[tex]e: N_{2}H_{4}[/tex] my answer: 3+
I know nitrogen exists in the 3-, 3+ and 5+ oxidation states. I would think that they would give me at least one of each. I'm REALLY not sure about b, c, and d.
For b. I don't really know how to handle the 1- charge. Since the N in NO2 is 3+ normally, I figured that maybe the extra charge makes it 5+ (since there is no 4+ state).
For c. my first thought was "for which nitrogen?" I would think one N would be 3+ and the other 3-. Should I give my answer for both?
For d. I reasoned that it was similar to b. except that instead of being a 1- ion it has a chloride attached, so I gave it the same oxidation # (5+) as b.
I’m more confident that I have a. and e. right though I wouldn’t bet my life on it.
My chemistry book doesn't really seem to address this very much. At least not in the form of this problem... If it does I must be missing it. I have read every one of the first 375 pages in the book, 14 chapters, and I am now on my mid-term exam for those chapters. So this info should be in the pages I've already read.
So, does anyone know what I’m getting right or wrong? Some help for any that I got wrong would be great.
Thanks,
Alan
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