Ammonium nitrate can decompose explosively when heated. NH4NO3 - N2O + 2H2O
what are changes in the oxidation numbers of two nitrogen atoms in ammonium nitrate when this reaction proceeds?

Question

Ammonium nitrate can decompose explosively when heated.     NH4NO3 -> N2O + 2H2O 
what are changes in the oxidation numbers of two nitrogen atoms in ammonium nitrate when this reaction proceeds?

chmvijay · Answer

find the oxidation state of N in NH4NO3 and N2O

anonymous · Answer

Didn't work 😣

chmvijay · Answer

what didnt work

anonymous · Answer

I did try to find the ox states of 2 nitrogen atoms that way..
but the answer I get is not right 😒

chmvijay · Answer

without doing that how can you get the oxidation state

chmvijay · Answer

and that too wrong :)

chmvijay · Answer

what is oxidation no of O can you tell

anonymous · Answer

Well, I didn't get the question 
just read the mark scheme. In it the ox states of 2 nitrogen atoms are +4, -4

chmvijay · Answer

O will have always -2 oxidation state since N2O is neutral mean charge on N2O is zero then what will be the charge on N2 and N

anonymous · Answer

I know that the ox state of O is -2
I

chmvijay · Answer

then on N2 of N2O what u expect the charge will be

anonymous · Answer

+1 I guess.

chmvijay · Answer

On N2 its +2 and on N its is +1 ur right

chmvijay · Answer

now you consider NH4Cl
the charge on NH4 is

anonymous · Answer

Exactly!

anonymous · Answer

-4?

anonymous · Answer

Ohhh, ammonium ion is +1

chmvijay · Answer

ok then what is charge on each protons of NH4 ion

chmvijay · Answer

proton will always have +1 charge

chmvijay · Answer

4 protons will have --- charge

anonymous · Answer

As there are 4 protons so +1 for each and total are +4 so in finding out the ox state of nitrogen atom it's -4

chmvijay · Answer

ur right

chmvijay · Answer

but the total charge on NH4 is +1 u have to deduce one and put the other charge on N

anonymous · Answer

Charge on nitrogen is -3

chmvijay · Answer

|dw:1369761962017:dw|
you are right

anonymous · Answer

I knew that already before I did the whole working but I just didn't get this question! :/

chmvijay · Answer

ok now you got it

anonymous · Answer

But the answer is not this

chmvijay · Answer

ok you also find ou the oxidation no of N in NO3 -
what will be that

anonymous · Answer

Charge on nitrate is -1 so ox state of nitrogen is nitrate is +5

chmvijay · Answer

yaaa ur right

chmvijay · Answer

so one is +5 and other is -3 in reactant side both get converted to +1 in product side

chmvijay · Answer

so u have too tell which is oxidized and which nitrogen is reduced can you now do that

anonymous · Answer

I got the answer right. Thanks for guiding :)

chmvijay · Answer

ur welcome :)