Nitrogen is perhaps the most common chemical element in the entire solar system. To be more specific, nitrogen is the 4th most abundant. Nitrogen is an inert gas in nature.
This gas is colorless, odorless and very difficult to dissolve in water. However, nitrate s alts tend to react very well with water. Nitrogen has a low density.
Nitrogen is an amazing element. There is an assumption that it got its name from the ancient Greek language, which means “lifeless, spoiled” in translation from it. Why such a negative attitude towards nitrogen? After all, we know that it is part of proteins, and breathing without it is almost impossible. Nitrogen plays an important role in nature. But in the atmosphere this gas is inert. If it is taken as it is in its original form, then many side effects are possible. The victim may even die from suffocation. After all, nitrogen is called lifeless because it does not support combustion or respiration.
Under normal conditions, such a gas reacts only with lithium, forming a compound such as lithium nitride Li3N. As we can see, the degree of nitrogen oxidation in suchconnection is -3. Of course, nitrogen also reacts with other metals and substances, but only when heated or when using various catalysts. By the way, -3 is the lowest oxidation state of nitrogen, since only 3 electrons are needed to completely fill the outer energy level.
This indicator has various meanings. Each oxidation state of nitrogen has its own compound. It is better to just remember such connections.
So, the oxidation state -3 can be in nitrides. The oxidation state of nitrogen in ammonia is also -3, no matter how paradoxical it may sound. Ammonia is a colorless gas with a very pungent odor. Remember ammonia. It also contains NH3 ammonia. Even medicines containing ammonia are produced. They are mainly indicated for fainting, dizziness, severe alcohol intoxication. A pungent odor quickly brings to the senses in the victim. No wonder, because he is ready to do anything, if only this "stinker" was removed from him.
Rarely are nitrogen oxidation states such as -1 and -2. The first is found in the so-called pernitrides, among which N2H2 is especially worth noting. The last oxidation state occurs in the NH2OH compound. Such a complex substance is a very weak unstable base. Mainly used in organic synthesis.
Let's move on to the highest degrees of nitrogen oxidation, of which there are also very many. Nitrogen oxidation state +1 occurs in a compound such as laughing gas (N2O). With a small amount of such a gas, practically no side effects are observed. Often it is used in small doses for anesthesia. However, if this gas is inhaled long enough, death by suffocation is possible.
The oxidation state +2 is found in the compound NO. The oxidation state +3 is in N2O3 oxide. The oxidation state +4 is in NO2 oxide. This gas has a reddish-brown hue and a pungent odor. It is an acidic oxide.
+5 - the highest oxidation state of nitrogen. Occurs in nitric acid and in all nitrate s alts.
