levo

The Chemical Industry

Oxidation states of nitrogen and the tests for nitrate and ammonium

  • 4 things to know
  • Components 01, 02 and 03

Overview

Recall questions on the oxidation state of nitrogen in its oxides and ions, and the Devarda's alloy and hydroxide tests.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Numbers

What are the oxidation states of nitrogen in NO and NO₂, why is 3NO₂ + H₂O → 2HNO₃ + NO a disproportionation, and which stage of S + O₂ → SO₂ then 2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃ is an equilibrium?

Key term

Why are all four N-H bonds in the ammonium ion identical, and what is the oxidation state of nitrogen in N₂O and NO₂?

Key term

What are the oxidation states of nitrogen in the nitrate(V) ion, the nitrate(III) ion and the ammonium ion?

Numbers

Nitrogen monoxide is oxidised by 2NO + O₂ → 2NO₂. Give the oxidation state of nitrogen in each oxide.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Deduce the oxidation state of nitrogen in N₂O.

    Model answer

    Each oxygen is −2 and the molecule is neutral, so each nitrogen is +1.

  2. 2

    Deduce the oxidation state of nitrogen in NO₂.

    Model answer

    Nitrogen is +4.

  3. 3

    Deduce the oxidation state of nitrogen in the nitrate(V) ion.

    Model answer

    Nitrogen is +5 in NO₃⁻.

  4. 4

    Deduce the oxidation state of nitrogen in the nitrate(III) ion.

    Model answer

    Nitrogen is +3 in NO₂⁻.

  5. 5

    Deduce the oxidation state of nitrogen in the ammonium ion.

    Model answer

    Nitrogen is −3 in NH₄⁺.

  6. 6

    Why is the name nitrate(V) used in preference to nitrate?

    Model answer

    The Roman numeral states the oxidation state of nitrogen, distinguishing NO₃⁻ from the nitrate(III) ion, NO₂⁻.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Development of Practical Skills in Chemistry
Elements of Life
Developing Fuels
Elements From the Sea

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

A acid is formed.
carboxylicnitricfatty

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

A3 ⁴₂He → ¹²₆C.
B¹²₆C + ⁴₂He → ¹⁶₈O.
C¹⁶₈O + ⁴₂He → ²⁰₁₀Ne.

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

Nitrogen is +2 in NO and +4 in NO₂.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in The Chemical Industry, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.