In the compound NH3, nitrogen has an oxidation number of 3+ and hydrogen has an oxidation number of what?

1 ⤊

In the compound NH3, nitrogen has an oxidation number of 3+ and hydrogen has an oxidation number of what?

Any help?

2007-06-12 17:14:58 · 2 answers · asked by Jenny3360 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry

2 answers

since NH3 is not an ion, the overall charge of the molecule must be 0. Therefore, since N is +3, then each H must be -1 in order to make the overall charge = 0.
+3 + (-1)*3 = 0

hope this helps

2007-06-12 17:24:16 · answer #1 · answered by bballl 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋

N is -3, and each H is +1.

H can only have an oxidation state of -1 when ionically bonded to extremely reactive metals.

2007-06-12 19:45:34 · answer #2 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋