Question

how can nitrogen show large number of oxidation state i.e from -3 to +5.explain with example.

Answer 1

Answer on Question #53496 – Chemistry – Inorganic Chemistry

Question:

how can nitrogen show large number of oxidation state i.e from -3 to +5. explain with example.

Answer:

Available oxidation state is determined by electronic configuration of element. Considering the nitrogen atom it has 5 valence electrons:

N: $1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{3}$

Large number of oxidation state is provided by the using four orbitals (one 's' and three 'p') which can contain from 0 to 8 electrons. Therefore oxidation state varies from +5 to -3. These limits are represented by the most energetically favorable configurations of nitrogen:

1) '-3' corresponds to completed quantum level which contains 8 electrons ($1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{6}$)

2) '+5' belongs to the configuration with empty outer quantum level ($1s^{2} 2s^{0} 2p^{0}$).

Nitrogen can attach 3 electrons to complete the quantum level to form configuration: $N^{3-}: 1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{6}$

It occurs with elements which has lower electronegativity than nitrogen.

For instance: $\mathrm{NH}_3$, $\mathrm{Li}_3\mathrm{N}$

Also it forms with hydrogen less stable compounds having oxidation states are of -2 and -1, respectively.

Their configurations are $N^{2-}: 1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{5}$ and $N^{1-}: 1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{4}$, which are represented by $N_{2}H_{4}$ (hydrazine) and $NH_{2}OH$ (hydroxylamine), respectively.

Zero oxidation state has configuration $N^0$: $1s^2 2s^2 2p^3$ and can be found in molecule of $N_2$.

Two oxides with oxidation states of $+1$ ($N^{+1}: 1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{2}$) and $+2$ ($N^{+2}: 1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{1}$) also exist: $N_2O$ and NO, respectively.

Interaction of Nitrogen with elements having higher electronegativity leads to lose of 3, 4, 5 electrons. This gives the following electronic configurations:

N$^{3+}$: $1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{0}$ Represented by $\mathrm{NF}_3$, $\mathrm{N}_2\mathrm{O}_3$

N$^{4+}$: $1s^{2} 2s^{1} 2p^{0}$ Found in $\mathrm{NO}_2$

N$^{5+}$: $1s^{2} 2s^{0} 2p^{0}$ For instance, $\mathrm{HNO}_3$, $\mathrm{N}_2\mathrm{O}_5$

www.AssignmentExpert.com