Ncert Exercises & Solutions

In which of the following compounds, an element exhibits two different oxidation state?

1.	${NH}_{2} OH$	2.	${NH}_{4} {NO}_{3}$
3.	$N_{2} H_{4}$	4.	$N_{3} H$

Hint: Compound in which nitrogen present in cationic part as well as anionic part.

{NH}_{4} {NO}_{3}

is actually

{NH}_{4}^{+}

and

{NO}_{3}^{-}

. It is an ionic compound.

The oxidation state of nitrogen in the two species is different as shown below

Let, oxidation number of N in

\overset{+}{N} H_{4}

\Rightarrow x + (4 \times 1) = + 1

x + 4 = + 1 or x = - 3

Let, oxidation number of N in

{NO}_{3}^{-}

is x

\Rightarrow x + (3 \times - 2) = - 1 or x - 6 = - 1 or x = + 5