An oxidation number in chemistry refers to the state of an element -- such as nitrogen -- in a compound when it either loses or gains an electron. This number corresponds to the lost or gained electrons, in which each loss of an electron raises the oxidation state of that substance by one. Likewise, each addition of an electron lowers the oxidation state -- and number -- by one and is known as a reduction.
Oxidation States of Nitrogen
Depending upon the compound, nitrogen can have an oxidation number as low as -3 or as high as +5. An example of a +5 nitrogen compound is nitric acid, which is used in the manufacturing of explosives, fertilizers and even rocket fuels. Nitrates also have oxidation numbers of +5. Examples of nitrates are sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate and silver nitrate.
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About the Author
Christopher Cascio is a memoirist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and literature from Southampton Arts at Stony Brook Southampton, and a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in the rhetoric of fiction from Pennsylvania State University. His literary work has appeared in "The Southampton Review," "Feathertale," "Kalliope" and "The Rose and Thorn Journal."
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