Which oxidation states are common among nitrogen group elements?

The nitrogen group elements (Group 15) exhibit a variety of oxidation states, which are closely correlated with their position in the periodic table.

Common oxidation states for these elements include:

• +5 Oxidation State: All elements in the group—nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth—can be found in the +5 state. While nitrogen can formally exhibit this state, it is limited by its inability to expand its valence octet beyond a coordination number of four.1
• +3 Oxidation State: This is a common state for these elements, reflecting their ability to form three covalent bonds while retaining a lone pair of electrons in their outermost shells.2
• -3 Oxidation State: This state is also common, particularly for nitrogen, depending on the relative electronegativity of the elements with which they are combined.32

The stability and properties of these states do not always follow a uniform trend within the group; for instance, the +5 states of nitrogen, arsenic, and bismuth are observed to be less stable and more strongly oxidizing than those of phosphorus and antimony.1