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How does the oxidation number of nitrogen differ in nitric acid and nitrous acid?
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oxyacid
The structure of phosphorous acid, H3PO3.
The oxidation number of nitrogen differs between nitric acid and nitrous acid due to the different number of oxygen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atom in each oxyacid.
- Nitric acid (HNO₃): In this compound, nitrogen exhibits an oxidation number of +5.1
- Nitrous acid (HNO₂): In this compound, nitrogen exhibits an oxidation number of +3.2
These values are determined by assigning an oxidation state of +1 to hydrogen and -2 to oxygen, ensuring the sum of the oxidation numbers equals the net charge of the molecule (zero for these neutral acids). Nitrogen is capable of assuming various oxidation numbers, ranging from -3 to +5, depending on the chemical environment and the atoms to which it is bonded.13