[hellowurld]

I should know this by now but I'm still struggling--can someone tell me how to find oxidation numbers?  For instance, here's a question:

Find the oxidation number of N in HNO₃

How do you do that?  Can you be as detailed as possible?  I haven't taken chemistry for two years, so I've more or less forgotten how to use a periodic table even.

Thanks,

Alex

[Sam (NG)]

O basically has a fixed oxidation state of -2 and H of +1 so the oxidation state of N is the state to make the overall state of the compound equal to zero e.g. (3 x -2)+1=-5.  Therefore, the ox state of N is +5.

Somebody else may be able to explain this better, but i hope that helps.

[hellowurld]

Thanks a lot, that really helps!