Question

How many electrons does a single oxygen gain or lose in the following reaction?

Answer 1

Answer:

it gains 2 electrons

Explanation:

atoms want to be more stable, for oxygen it's number is 8, 2 less than the stable ring of 10. and hydrogen has a single electron, 1 less than the stable ring of 2. so oxygen takes 2 electrons 2 make it stable and hydrogen becomes attatched to the oxygen atom to form a covalent bond

Answer 2

Answer: A single oxygen atom is gaining 2 electrons in the given reaction.

Explanation:

Oxidation reaction is defined as the chemical reaction in which an atom looses its electrons. The oxidation number of the atom gets increased during this reaction.

$X\rightarrow X^{n+}+ne^-$

Reduction reaction is defined as the chemical reaction in which an atom gains electrons. The oxidation number of the atom gets reduced during this reaction.

$X^{n+}+ne^-\rightarrow X$

For the given chemical reaction:

$H_2+\frac{1}{2}O_2\rightarrow H_2O$

The half cell reactions for the above reaction follows:

Oxidation half reaction:  $H_2\rightarrow 2H^{+}+2e^-$

Reduction half reaction:  $\frac{1}{2}O_2+2e^-\rightarrow O^{2-}$

As, hydrogen is loosing 2 electrons to form hydrogen cation. Thus, it is getting oxidized. Oxygen is gaining 2 electrons to form oxygen anion. Thus, it is getting reduced.

Hence, a single oxygen atom is gaining 2 electrons in the given reaction.