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Can anyone help me with calculating oxidation numbers? 
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Help In Chem
- Thread starter punksovereign
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Working out oxidation states
You don't work out oxidation states by counting the numbers of electrons transferred. It would take far too long. Instead you learn some simple rules, and do some very simple sums!
The oxidation state of an uncombined element is zero. That's obviously so, because it hasn't been either oxidised or reduced yet! This applies whatever the structure of the element - whether it is, for example, Xe or Cl2 or S8, or whether it has a giant structure like carbon or silicon.
The sum of the oxidation states of all the atoms or ions in a neutral compound is zero.
The sum of the oxidation states of all the atoms in an ion is equal to the charge on the ion.
The more electronegative element in a substance is given a negative oxidation state. The less electronegative one is given a positive oxidation state. Remember that fluorine is the most electronegative element with oxygen second.
Some elements almost always have the same oxidation states in their compounds:
element usual oxidation state exceptions
Group 1 metals always +1
Group 2 metals always +2
Oxygen usually -2 except in peroxides and F2O (see below)
Hydrogen usually +1 except in metal hydrides where it is -1 (see below)
Fluorine always -1
Chlorine usually -1 except in compounds with O or F (see below)
The reasons for the exceptions
Hydrogen in the metal hydrides
Metal hydrides include compounds like sodium hydride, NaH. In this, the hydrogen is present as a hydride ion, H-. The oxidation state of a simple ion like hydride is equal to the charge on the ion - in this case, -1.
Alternatively, you can think of it that the sum of the oxidation states in a neutral compound is zero. Since Group 1 metals always have an oxidation state of +1 in their compounds, it follows that the hydrogen must have an oxidation state of -1 (+1 -1 = 0).
Oxygen in peroxides
Peroxides include hydrogen peroxide, H2O2. This is an electrically neutral compound and so the sum of the oxidation states of the hydrogen and oxygen must be zero.
Since each hydrogen has an oxidation state of +1, each oxygen must have an oxidation state of -1 to balance it.
Oxygen in F2O
The problem here is that oxygen isn't the most electronegative element. The fluorine is more electronegative and has an oxidation state of -1. In this case, the oxygen has an oxidation state of +2.
Chlorine in compounds with fluorine or oxygen
There are so many different oxidation states that chlorine can have in these, that it is safer to simply remember that the chlorine doesn't have an oxidation state of -1 in them, and work out its actual oxidation state when you need it. You will find an example of this below.
You don't work out oxidation states by counting the numbers of electrons transferred. It would take far too long. Instead you learn some simple rules, and do some very simple sums!
The oxidation state of an uncombined element is zero. That's obviously so, because it hasn't been either oxidised or reduced yet! This applies whatever the structure of the element - whether it is, for example, Xe or Cl2 or S8, or whether it has a giant structure like carbon or silicon.
The sum of the oxidation states of all the atoms or ions in a neutral compound is zero.
The sum of the oxidation states of all the atoms in an ion is equal to the charge on the ion.
The more electronegative element in a substance is given a negative oxidation state. The less electronegative one is given a positive oxidation state. Remember that fluorine is the most electronegative element with oxygen second.
Some elements almost always have the same oxidation states in their compounds:
element usual oxidation state exceptions
Group 1 metals always +1
Group 2 metals always +2
Oxygen usually -2 except in peroxides and F2O (see below)
Hydrogen usually +1 except in metal hydrides where it is -1 (see below)
Fluorine always -1
Chlorine usually -1 except in compounds with O or F (see below)
The reasons for the exceptions
Hydrogen in the metal hydrides
Metal hydrides include compounds like sodium hydride, NaH. In this, the hydrogen is present as a hydride ion, H-. The oxidation state of a simple ion like hydride is equal to the charge on the ion - in this case, -1.
Alternatively, you can think of it that the sum of the oxidation states in a neutral compound is zero. Since Group 1 metals always have an oxidation state of +1 in their compounds, it follows that the hydrogen must have an oxidation state of -1 (+1 -1 = 0).
Oxygen in peroxides
Peroxides include hydrogen peroxide, H2O2. This is an electrically neutral compound and so the sum of the oxidation states of the hydrogen and oxygen must be zero.
Since each hydrogen has an oxidation state of +1, each oxygen must have an oxidation state of -1 to balance it.
Oxygen in F2O
The problem here is that oxygen isn't the most electronegative element. The fluorine is more electronegative and has an oxidation state of -1. In this case, the oxygen has an oxidation state of +2.
Chlorine in compounds with fluorine or oxygen
There are so many different oxidation states that chlorine can have in these, that it is safer to simply remember that the chlorine doesn't have an oxidation state of -1 in them, and work out its actual oxidation state when you need it. You will find an example of this below.
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thanks!! that really helped.