Question

please match nitrogen from the phrase that best describes it:

_Most abundant form of nitrogen

_disrupts 03-o2 equilibrium and is a greenhouse gas

_most oxidized form of nitrogen

1. NO

2. N2

3. N2O

4.NO3

5.HNO2

Answer 1

Ans. 1. Most abundant form of Nitrogen is N₂ N₂ constitutes around 78% of the atmospheric gases.

Ans. 2. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a greenhouse gas. Rest of the gases listed here are not greenhouse gas.

N₂O exhibits photolysis in presence of UV rays in stratosphere as follows-

            N₂O ------UV (hv)---------> NO + O

Nascent oxygen (O) further reacts with nitrous oxide to produce nitric oxide as follows-

            N₂O + O -------------> 2 ­NO

The product, nitric oxide (NO) further reacts with ozone (O₃) to produce nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) which further reacts ozone.

            NO + O₃ -------> NO2 + O₂

            NO₂ + O₃ --------> NO₃ + O₂

Through this chain reaction, nitrous oxide (N₂O) disrupts the ozone layer (O₃- O₂ equilibrium in the ozone layer).   

Ans. 3. NO – Oxidation number of N-atom = +2

N₂ – Oxidation number of N-atom = 0

N₂O – Oxidation number of N-atom = +1

NO₃^- – Oxidation number of N-atom = +5

HNO₂ – Oxidation number of N-atom = +3

Thus, NO₃^- is the most oxidized from of nitrogen because of having highest oxidation number.