Question:
Name three oxoacids of nitrogen. Write the disproportionation reaction of that oxoacid of nitrogen in which nitrogen is in +3 oxidation state.
Solution:
There are three oxoacids of nitrogen.
Nitric acid(HNO3), Nitrous acid (HNO2), Hyponitrous acid (H2N2O1)
+ 3 oxidation is shown by HNO2, Therefore it undergoes disproportion reaction,
To calculate the oxidation state, consider the oxidation state of N is x.
3HNO2 HNO3 + 2NO +H2O
The oxidation state of nitrogen in HNO2 is +3
X + (+1) +2*(-2) = 0, x= +3
The oxidation state of nitrogen in HNO3 is +5
X + (+1) + 3*(-2) = 0, x= 5
The oxidation state of nitrogen in NO is +2
X + (-2) = 0, x =2
Therefore +3 oxidation state changes to +5 and +2 oxidation states.