Relationship Between Oxidation # and O Atoms

[Carly Yoon]

Why does oxidation number increase when the number of O atoms increases?

[Caden Ciraulo 1J]

When bonded in a covalent compound with anything other than Fluorine, oxygen has an oxidation state of -2. Therefore, adding more oxygens adds a greater number of -2 oxidation states. However, oxygens in any state other than their independent gas state still have a negative oxidation state. Knowing that an oxidation state of a molecule is equivalent to its charge means that in order for a molecule to be neutral, the oxidation states of other atoms within the molecule become dependent on the oxygen added in order to make the sum of all oxidation numbers equivalent to zero.

[bree_wray_14a]

Hi, since the oxidation number of oxygen is -2 unless attached to fluorine. so as the # of Oxygens increase in a compound, the oxidation number increase as well.

[Benicio Rivera 1F]

We have to determine, in which of the given reactions, the oxidation number of oxygen increases. Oxidation is a reaction where the oxidation state of an element increases. So basically, we are determining the reaction where oxygen is being oxidized.

[Baffour Adusei 1L]

Oxygen almost always takes the oxidation number of -2. So when more oxygens are added, the oxidation numbers of the other atoms bonded are dependent on that and change accordingly.