How can nitrogen achieve a #+V# oxidation state?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 11, 2016

You mean how can nitrogen achieve a #+V# oxidation state.

Explanation:

Consider the nitrate ion, #NO_3^-#. Here, nitrogen has a formal #+V# oxidation state (i.e. #3xx-2+N_("ON")=-1)#. Nitrogen also bears this oxidation state in the NEUTRAL GAS #N_2O_5#. Our ideas of oxidation state are formalisms. They may be useful in some circumstances for pedagogy or calculation, but they have no real physical basis.

Related questions
See all questions in Valence Electrons
Impact of this question
1676 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License