Nitric acid is a strong acid, but nitrous acid is a weak acid. Why? A. there are more electronegative oxygen atoms bonded to the N atom, resulting in a higher oxidation state of the N atom and resulting in a more polar O?H bond B. the electronegativity of the N atom in greater in nitric acid than it is in nitrous acid C. the N atom in nitric acid is slightly larger than the N atom in nitrous acid D. the nitrate ion is a stronger base than the nitrite ion E. the higher oxidation state of the N atom results in a weaker N?H bond