What is the oxidation number of nitrogen in NH4OH?

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What is the oxidation number of nitrogen in NH4OH?

In NH4OH, oxidation numbers are assigned so the total sum equals zero, with hydrogen almost always +1 and oxygen almost always -2. Let nitrogen have oxidation state x. There are five hydrogens contributing +5, and one oxygen contributing -2. Since the molecule is neutral, x + 5 + (-2) = 0, so x + 3 = 0, giving x = -3. This also aligns with viewing the ammonium part as NH4+, where nitrogen must be -3 to balance the +1 charge. Therefore, the oxidation number of nitrogen is -3.

In NH4OH, oxidation numbers are assigned so the total sum equals zero, with hydrogen almost always +1 and oxygen almost always -2. Let nitrogen have oxidation state x. There are five hydrogens contributing +5, and one oxygen contributing -2. Since the molecule is neutral, x + 5 + (-2) = 0, so x + 3 = 0, giving x = -3. This also aligns with viewing the ammonium part as NH4+, where nitrogen must be -3 to balance the +1 charge. Therefore, the oxidation number of nitrogen is -3.

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