Oxides Of Nitrogen
Which oxide of nitrogen is a neutral oxide that is also used as an anaesthetic commonly known as laughing gas?
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- p-block elements
- Topic
- oxides of nitrogen
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
NitrousoxideN2O
Nitrogen forms several oxides with different oxidation states and acid-base characters. Nitrous oxide, N_2O, in which nitrogen has an average oxidation state of +1, is a neutral oxide because it does not react with water to give an acid or a base and does not form salts. It is the gas commonly called laughing gas and is used as a mild anaesthetic and analgesic in dentistry and surgery. Nitric oxide, NO, is also neutral but is not the anaesthetic in question and is a colourless reactive gas. Nitrogen dioxide, NO_2, is an acidic, brown, toxic gas that forms acids with water. Dinitrogen pentoxide, N_2O_5, is the acidic anhydride of nitric acid. Identifying the nature and uses of nitrogen oxides is a standard NCERT topic. Plausibility check: the well-known anaesthetic use and neutral, non-salt-forming behaviour both point specifically to nitrous oxide, confirming the answer.
This easy difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter p-block elements, covering the topic of oxides of nitrogen. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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