Oxidation numbers


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Sunjum Singh 1I
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:05 am

Oxidation numbers

Postby Sunjum Singh 1I » Sat May 19, 2018 1:09 pm

What exactly are oxidation numbers and how do you find them for elements?

Dennisse Diaz 1D
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Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:39 pm
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Re: Oxidation numbers

Postby Dennisse Diaz 1D » Sat May 19, 2018 3:02 pm

Oxidation numbers are numbers you assign to an element in chemical combination that represents the number of electrons lost (or gained, if the number is negative) by an atom of that element in the compound.

Dennisse Diaz 1D
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:39 pm
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Re: Oxidation numbers

Postby Dennisse Diaz 1D » Sat May 19, 2018 3:05 pm

To find oxidation numbers...
1) The oxidation number of a free element is always 0.
2) The oxidation number of a monatomic ion equals the charge of the ion.
3) The oxidation number of H is +1, but it is -1 in when combined with less electronegative elements.
4) The oxidation number of O in compounds is usually -2, but it is -1 in peroxides.

CarinaVargas1J
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:00 am

Re: Oxidation numbers

Postby CarinaVargas1J » Sun May 20, 2018 10:40 pm

Element by itself = 0 Monatomic Ion = ion charge
Group 1A = always +1
Group 2A= always +2
Halogens= usually -1, positive with oxygen
Hydrogen= +1 with nonmetals
-1 with metals
Oxygen= usually -2, -1 with peroxide ((H2O2)
Fluoride= always -1

* I recommend you to watch Tyler DeWitt in Youtube if you are still having some trouble finding oxidation numbers. He goes over some examples.

Ziana Bhanji 1E
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:01 am

Re: Oxidation numbers

Postby Ziana Bhanji 1E » Sun May 20, 2018 10:43 pm

An oxidation number is a number assigned to an element in chemical combination. It represents the number of electrons lost/gained by an atom of that element in the compound.

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/che ... ion-states

This video also gives some helpful examples that are worked out for you.


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