Oxides of Nitrogen

OXIDES OF NITROGEN.
Nitrogen forms several oxides with oxygen. This requires a very high
temperature. The following are oxides of nitrogen:
1. Nitrogen(i) oxide, N2O
2. Nitrogen(ii) oxide, NO
3. Nitrogen(iv) oxide.
Nitrogen(i) oxide, N2O, was discovered by Priestly. It is known as laughing
gas because when inhaled, it causes uncontrollable fits of laughter.
Nitrogen(ii) oxide, NO, was discovered by Cavendish in 1770 as one of the
products formed on passing an electric spark through air.
Nitrogen(iv) oxide, NO2, is a reddish brown gas, liberated when
trioxonitrates(v) of heavy metals are heated.
LABORATORY PREPARATION OF THE DIFFERENT OXIDES OF
NITROGEN.
Direct thermal decomposition of ammonium trioxonitrate(v),
NH4NO3, is exothermic and very explosive. Hence, to produce nitrogen(i)
oxide,N2O, a mixture of potassium trioxonitrate(v), KNO3 and ammonium
chlorideNH4Cl, is first used to produce ammonium trioxonitrate(v), NH 4NO3
which decomposes to produce nitrogen(i) oxide.
Nitrogen(i) oxide, N2O, is collected over warm water as the gas is fairly
soluble in cold water.
KNO3+ NH4Cl KCl + NH4NO3
NH4NO3 2H2O + N2O
Nitrogen (ii) oxide, NO, is produced in the laboratory by the action of
trioxonitrate(v) acid on most metals like copper turnings.
3Cu + 8HNO33Cu(NO3)2 + 4H2O + 2NO
Nitrogen(iv) oxide, NO2, can be prepared in the laboratory by
decomposing lead(ii) trioxonitrate(v).
2Pb(NO3)2 2PbO + O2 + NO2
NB: The gases produced are passed through a U-tube immersed in a
freezing mixture. The nitrogen(iv) oxide becomes liquefied, green in colour
(yellow when pure).
The residue, PbO left behind in the boiling tube is reddish-brown when hot
but turns yellow on cooling.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES.
Nitrogen(i) oxide, Nitrogen (ii) Nitrogen(iv)
N2O oxide, NO oxide, NO2.
 Colourless gas,  Colourless and  A reddish-
sweetish taste poisonous gas. brown gas.
and pleasant  Insoluble in  Irritating and
but sickly water. poisonous
smell.  Slightly denser smell.
 Fairly soluble than air.  Turns damp
in cold water.  Neutral to blue litmus
 1.5 times litmus paper. paper red,
denser than forms an acidic
air. solution in
 Neutral to water.
moist litmus  Much heavier
paper. than air.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.
Nitrogen(i) oxide, N2O.
1. Nitrogen(i) oxide decomposes at red-heat ( about 600 0C) into its
component elements.
2N2O 2N2+ O2
2. Nitrogen(i) oxide supports the combustion of any burning substances
to yield nitrogen gas.
S + 2N2O 2N2 + SO2
Mg + N2O MgO + N2
3. Nitrogen(i) oxide is reduced to nitrogen when it passes over heated
copper or iron.
Cu + N2O CuO + N2
Nitrogen(ii) oxide, NO.
1. Nitrogen(ii) oxide combines with oxygen readily to produce brown
fumes of nitrogen (iv) oxide.
2NO + O2 2NO2
2. Nitrogen(ii) oxide decomposes into equal volumes of nitrogen and
oxygen only at high temperatures of about 10000C.
2NO N 2 + O2
NB: The gas extinguishes a burning splinter and burning Sulphur but
burning phosphorus, lead or magnesium will continue to burn in the
gas.
3. Nitrogen(ii) oxide reacts with heated metals, reducing it to nitrogen.
2Cu + 2NO 2CuO + N 2
4. Nitrogen(ii) oxide dissolves readily in iron(ii) tetraoxosulphate(vi)
solution, forming a dark brown solution of an addition compound
which decomposes again when heated.
This reaction is a basis of the brown ring test for trioxonitrates(v).
FeSO4(aq) + NO(g) FeSO4.NO(aq)
Nitrogen(iv) oxide, NO2.
1. Nitrogen(iv) oxide , NO2 reacts with water by dissolving in it to form a
mixture of dioxonitrate(iii) and trioxonitrate(v) acids.
2NO2 + H2O HNO2 + HNO3
2. Nitrogen(iv) oxide , NO2 reacts with alkalis as an acid anhydride to
yield dioxonitrate(iii) and trioxonitrate(v) salts.
2NO2 + 2KOH KNO3 + KNO2 + H2O
3. Nitrogen(iv) oxide , NO2 is reduced to nitrogen by heated copper or
iron.
4Cu + 2NO2 4CuO + N2
4. Nitrogen(iv) oxide does not burn in air, but it will support the
combustion of any burning substance which is not enough to
decompose it into oxygen and nitrogen.
2C(s) + 2NO2(g) 2CO2(g) + N2(g)
4Mg(s) + 2NO2(g) 4MgO(s) + N2(g)
TEST FOR NITROGEN(I) OXIDE.
Insert a brightly glowing splinter into a test-tube containing the unknown
gas. If the splinter
is rekindled, the gas is either nitrogen(i) oxide or oxygen.
TEST FOR NITROGEN(II) OXIDE.
Pour a solution of acidified iron(ii) tetraoxosulphate(vi), into a test-tube
containing the
unknown gas. If the solution turns dark brown, then the gas is nitrogen(ii)
oxide.
USES OF NITROGEN(I) OXIDE.
1. Nitrogen(i) oxide is used as a mild anaesthetic for minor surgical
operations.
2. Nitrogen(i) oxide is used with about 20% oxygen, required to keep
the patient alive.

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OXIDES OF NITROGEN.

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