The oxidation number is an integer that represents the number of electrons that an atom receives or makes available to others when it forms a given compound.
The oxidation number is positive if the atom loses electrons, or shares them with an atom that has a tendency to accept them. And it will be negative when the atom gains electrons, or shares them with an atom that has a tendency to give them up.
Chemical compounds are electrically neutral. That is, the charge that all the atoms of a compound contribute must be globally null. That is, when having positive or negative charges in a compound, their sum must be zero.
There are some rules for determining oxidation numbers in compounds. Among them it is possible to mention:
Hydrogen (H) has an oxidation number +1 with nonmetals and - 1 with metals.
Oxygen (O) presents the oxidation number -2
Fluorine F has a unique oxidation state -1
Then:
NOF: N+(-2)+(-1)=0 → N=3 → oxidation number of nitrogen (N) is +3, oxidation number of oxygen (O) is -2 and oxidation number of fluorine (F) is -1.
ClF₅: Cl + 5*(-1)=0 → Cl= 5 → oxidation number of chlorine (Cl) is +5 and oxidation number of fluorine (F) is -1.
H₂SO₃: 2*(+1)+S+3*(-2)=0 → S=4 → oxidation number of hydrogen (H) is +1, oxidation number of oxygen (O) is -2 and oxidation number of sulfur (S) is +4.
H• •Be• •H --> H:Be:H Since there are 4 valence electrons in total, Beryllium has 2 and Hydrogen has 2. You would put the Be in the middle because there is only 1 of them.
Ok the answers to the hole .doc is 1. Neutrons, Protons, and Electrons 2. N<span>ucleus 3. N</span>eutrons and Protons 4. Electrons 5. Because they represent different things (I would put this in your own words)
