Question

Use the rules (in order) to assign oxidation numbers to each of the elements in the compounds below.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

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.