In which of the following pairs of compounds, nitrogen has maximum positive and maximum negative values of…
In which of the following pairs of compounds, nitrogen has maximum positive and maximum negative values of oxidation number?
$\mathrm{NH}_{3}$ and $\mathrm{HN}_{3}$
$\mathrm{HNO}_{3}$ and $\mathrm{HCN}$
$\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}$ and $\mathrm{NH}_{2} \mathrm{OH}$
$\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}$ and $\mathrm{NO}_{2}$
Solution
Nitrogen in $\mathrm{HNO}_{3}$ and $\mathrm{HCN}$ has $+5$ and $-3$ oxidation number, respectively. These are the maximum positive or negative amongst the oxidation of number of $\mathrm{N}$ in other substances.