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Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers

This document outlines the rules for assigning oxidation numbers to atoms in chemical compounds and ions. The rules state that: 1) Free elements have an oxidation number of zero. 2) Ions have the same charge as their oxidation number. 3) Some elements only have one oxidation state. 4) Group 1 and 2 metals have oxidation states of +1 and +2 respectively when forming ions. 5) Oxygen is usually -2 and hydrogen is usually +1 except in certain compounds. The sum of oxidation numbers in a compound is always zero.

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210 views2 pages

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers

This document outlines the rules for assigning oxidation numbers to atoms in chemical compounds and ions. The rules state that: 1) Free elements have an oxidation number of zero. 2) Ions have the same charge as their oxidation number. 3) Some elements only have one oxidation state. 4) Group 1 and 2 metals have oxidation states of +1 and +2 respectively when forming ions. 5) Oxygen is usually -2 and hydrogen is usually +1 except in certain compounds. The sum of oxidation numbers in a compound is always zero.

Uploaded by

Alph Brick
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Rules for assigning oxidation number

Oxidation number (Oxidation state) - number assigned to keep track of electrons based on the
arbitrary assumption that shared electrons belong to the more electronegative element
Rules for assigning oxidation numbers
1. Oxidation numbers for atoms that are free elements are always zero
2. The oxidation numbers of ions are the same as the charge on the ion
3. Some elements have only one oxidation state
4. Group 1 metals always form 1+ ions and always have a +1 oxidation state
5. Group 2 metals always form 2+ ions and always have a +2 oxidation state
Some elements usually have a particular oxidation state
6. Oxygen has a -2 oxidation state except in peroxides where it is -1 and in compounds
with fluorine (OF2) where it is +2
7. Hydrogen has a +1 oxidation state except in hydrides with group 1 and group 2 metals
8. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a compound it is always zero
9. In a polyatomic ion it is equal to the charge on the ion
Finding oxidation numbers apply the rules

Teacher Model Problem

•​What is the sum of oxidation number in the compound NO​2​?


•​What is the oxidation number of atoms in NaOH?
-2
•​What is the oxidation number of sulfur in sulfate ions? SO4​
.What is the oxidation number of carbon in carbon dioxide?

.What is the oxidation number of sulfur in sulfuric acid?

.What is the oxidation number of nitrogen in nitrate ion?

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