What is the charge on a nitrate ion?

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Multiple Choice

What is the charge on a nitrate ion?

Explanation:
Ions carry a net charge because they have more or fewer electrons than protons. Nitrate is NO3−, which shows there is one extra electron in the ion. If you assign oxidation states, nitrogen is +5 and each oxygen is −2. So total charge = (+5) + 3(−2) = +5 − 6 = −1. That means the whole ion has one negative charge, written as −1 (or 1−). The other possibilities would not match the actual number of electrons shown in the formula; 0 would be neutral, while 2− or 3− would require more extra electrons than the ion has.

Ions carry a net charge because they have more or fewer electrons than protons. Nitrate is NO3−, which shows there is one extra electron in the ion. If you assign oxidation states, nitrogen is +5 and each oxygen is −2. So total charge = (+5) + 3(−2) = +5 − 6 = −1. That means the whole ion has one negative charge, written as −1 (or 1−). The other possibilities would not match the actual number of electrons shown in the formula; 0 would be neutral, while 2− or 3− would require more extra electrons than the ion has.

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