Is the Oxidation State of Nitrate Really +5 or +4?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the oxidation state of nitrate (NO3-) and whether it is +5 or +4. Participants explore the reasoning behind the assigned oxidation state, including the implications of bonding and charge distribution within the molecule.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why nitrate is assigned an oxidation state of +5, suggesting that with four bonds to oxygen, it should be +4.
  • Another participant asserts that oxidation numbers are not determined solely by the number of bonds to the atom.
  • A participant expresses difficulty accessing a provided link and seeks further clarification on the topic.
  • Another participant shares an alternative link for information on oxidation numbers.
  • A participant describes the bonding structure in nitrate, indicating that the nitrogen has five bonds to oxygen, including various types of bonds, and notes the negative charge on oxygen.
  • A later reply asks for clarification on whether the discussion is specifically about the oxidation state of the nitrogen atom.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the oxidation state of nitrate, with multiple competing views and interpretations presented.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about bonding and charge distribution are not fully explored, and the discussion includes references to external resources that may not be accessible to all participants.

Spirochete
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Why does nitrate (NO3-) have an oxidation state of +5? Doesn't it have 4 bonds to oxygen? Shouldn't that give it an oxidation state of +4?
 
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read this, http://http://www.chem.lsu.edu/lucid/allen/OxNumbers.htm"

Oxidation numbers are not determined by the number of bonds to the atom
 
Last edited by a moderator:
That link doesn't work for me and I am still wondering about this topic. Anybody else want to fill me in?
 
In NO3-, the negative charge is on the oxygen. in molecular form, it would have been nitric acid, HNO3. there is an N-O-H bond, a N=O bond and a N<=O bond (dative).

In NO3-, the N-O-H bond becomes N-O^-

it has 5 'bonds' to oxygen. (1 double bond, 1 dative double bond and 1 single bond with O-)
 
Spirochete-Are you referring to the oxidation state of the nitrogen atom?
 

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