Oxidation Number

[Emma Strassner 1J]

Is the only way to determine the oxidation number of something by memorizing the rules? Or is there a process we could follow?

[Ryan Laureano 3I]

I would just think of it conceptually. If you know where the element is in the periodic table, you can deduce how many electrons it gains or loses. For example, the group 2 elements would have an oxidation number of +2 because it loses two electrons to fulfill the octet rule.

[MinjooPark_3I]

When I took chemistry in high school, I had to memorize the oxidation numbers. Group1 is +1, Group2 is +2, Fluorine is -1, Group15 is -1, Group16 is -2, Group17 is -3, Oxygen is usually -2(not when with fluorine or peroxides), Hydrogen is +1 when paired with non-metals and -1 when paired with metals, etc. Hope this helped!

[Emma Strassner 1J]

That makes sense, thank you!

[Tobie Jessup 2E]

When I took chemistry in high school, I had to memorize the oxidation numbers. Group1 is +1, Group2 is +2, Fluorine is -1, Group15 is -1, Group16 is -2, Group17 is -3, Oxygen is usually -2(not when with fluorine or peroxides), Hydrogen is +1 when paired with non-metals and -1 when paired with metals, etc. Hope this helped!

this is really helpful thank you!

[Haochen He 3L]

I think MinjooPark_3F has explained very clearly. Basically, you should memorize those oxidation numbers.

[Sophia Kalanski 1A]

It's just something you would need to know conceptually. Like for carbon, it would be a +4 because all the electrons move away from it to the more electronegative atom

[Jacob Schwarz-Discussion 3I]

I would think of it like this:
If you have the formula NO3-, and you are asked for the oxidation number of N.
You know the final charge is -1 and you know the oxidation number of O is -2. So -2 times 3 is -6 and so the oxidation of N would 5 in order to get you back to the final output of -1

[Brian_Wu_3B]

What are some of the exceptions to oxidation numbers?