Environment & Energy

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Difference Between Nitric Oxide and Nitrous Oxide
December 27, 2017
by Madhusha
6 min read
Main Difference – Nitric Oxide vs Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Nitric oxide and nitrous oxide are oxides of nitrogen. Nitrogen is a chemical element with the atomic number 7, and it is a nonmetal in the p block of the periodic table of elements. Nitrogen in its different oxides has different oxidation states. Oxidation state is the number of electrons a particular atom can lose, gain or share with another atom. In nitric oxide, nitrogen atom shares two electrons with an oxygen atom. Hence, the oxidation state of nitrogen in nitric oxide is +2. In contrast, the oxidation state of nitrogen in nitrous oxide is +1. This is the main difference between nitric oxide and nitrous oxide. (more)