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QuestionChemistry

What is the oxidation state of nitrogen in the molecule N^2?
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Step 1:
I'll solve this problem step by step, following the specified LaTeX formatting guidelines:

Step 2:
: Understand the Concept of Oxidation State

The oxidation state (or oxidation number) is a measure of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a chemical compound. For elemental molecules, the oxidation state is typically zero.

Step 3:
: Analyze the Molecule N₂

In the nitrogen molecule $$N_{2}$$, we have two identical nitrogen atoms bonded together.

Step 4:
: Determine the Oxidation State

For an elemental molecule where atoms of the same element are bonded together, the oxidation state is always zero.

Step 5:
: Verify the Calculation

\text{Oxidation state of N in } N_{2} = 0

Final Answer

Key Explanation: - In N_{2}, each nitrogen atom shares electrons equally - No charge transfer occurs between the identical nitrogen atoms - This results in a neutral oxidation state of zero for each nitrogen atom