Will the formation of a dative bond change the oxidation number?

Thread starter coconut62
Start date Jul 17, 2013
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Bond Change Formation Oxidation

AI Thread Summary

In the discussion about the oxidation number of nitrogen in ammonia (NH3) when it forms a dative bond with a hydrogen ion (H+) to create an ammonium ion (NH4+), it is clarified that the oxidation state of nitrogen does not change from +3 to +5. Instead, the oxidation number remains at -3 in NH3 and -3 in NH4+. The confusion arises from the bonding nature; while nitrogen shares electrons in the dative bond, the oxidation state is determined by the overall electron count and formal charge, not merely by the number of electrons involved in bonding. Thus, the oxidation number of nitrogen in both NH3 and NH4+ is consistently -3.

Jul 17, 2013

coconut62

Consider NH3, if it forms a dative bond with an H+ to form an ammonium ion, will the oxidation number of N change from +3 to +5? My reasoning is that it uses 5 electrons in bonding.

Is that correct?

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Jul 17, 2013

janhaa

Read here:

http://www.chembuddy.com/?left=balancing-stoichiometry&right=oxidation-numbers-method

Jul 17, 2013

janhaa

furthermore

NH_3

NH_4^+

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