Nitrogen bonds with oxygen to from a number of oxides and oxyanions, the most common of which are listed below – examiners often ask students to draw the dot/cross structure for these molecules.
- dinitrogen oxide, N2O (nitrogen has an oxidation state of +1)

- nitrogen monoxide, NO (nitrogen has an oxidation state of +2)

- nitrogen dioxide, NO2, and dinitrogen tetroxide, N2O4 (nitrogen has an oxidation state of +4)

- nitrate(V) ion, NO3–

- nitrate(III) ion, NO2– (nitrite ion)
