An oxidation number is the an atom would have if all bonds involved the of electrons. The oxidation number can be used to determine whether a species is oxidized or reduced in a chemical reaction.

Many free radicals combine to form molecules that do not contain any unpaired electrons. the driving force for the radical–radical combination reaction is the formation of a new electron‑pair bond. consider the chemical equation. n(g)+no(g)⟶nno(g) n(g)+no(g)⟶nno(g) write lewis formulas for the reactant and product species in the chemical equation. include nonbonding electrons. n(g)n(g) select draw rings more erase select draw rings more erase select draw rings more erase n no(g)