Oxidation number

The oxidation number of an element indicates the number of electrons lost, gained, or shared as a result of chemical bonding

Maximal and minimal oxidation numbers of elements

Metals: maximal oxidation number corresponds to number of group Na +1, Al +3, Mn +7; minimal oxidation number always is 0. Non-metals: maximal oxidation number corresponds to number of group C +4, N +5 Cl +7 minimal oxidation numbers is (8 number of group) C -4, N -3, S -2, Cl -1

Element usual oxidation state exceptions Group 1 metals always +1 Group 2 metals always +2 Oxygen usually -2 Fluorine always -1 Chlorine usually -1 except in compounds with O or F

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers

The oxidation number of an atom in the elemental state is zero. Example: Cl2 and Al both are 0 The oxidation number of a monatomic ion is equal to its charge. Example: In the compound NaCl, the sodium has an oxidation number of 1+ and the chlorine is 1-. The algebraic sum of the oxidation numbers in the formula of a compound is zero. Example: the oxidation numbers in the NaCl above add up to 0 The oxidation number of hydrogen in a compound is 1+, except when hydrogen forms compounds called hydrides with active metals, and then it is 1-. Examples: H is 1+ in H2O, but 1- in NaH (sodium hydride). The oxidation number of oxygen in a compound is 2-, except in peroxides when it is 1-, and when combined with fluorine. Then it is 2+. Example: In H2O the oxygen is 2-, in H2O2 it is 1-. The algebraic sum of the oxidation numbers in the formula for a polyatomic ion is equal to the charge on that ion. Example: in the sulfate ion, SO42-, the oxidation numbers of the sulfur and the oxygens add up to 2-. The oxygens are 2- each, and the sulfur is 6+.

 Procedure for Calculation of Oxidation Numbers Write down the formula of the given molecule/ion leaving some space between the atoms. Write oxidation number on the top of each atom with 'x' in case of the atom whose oxidation number has to be calculated. Write down the total oxidation numbers of each element beneath the formula. For this purpose multiply the oxidation numbers of each atom with the number of atoms of that kind in the molecule/ion. Write the product in a bracket. Equate the sum of the oxidation numbers to zero for neutral molecule and equal to charge in case of the ion. Solve for the value of 'x'.

Calculate oxidation number of sulphur

+1 x 2

K2SO4
(2 +1) + x + (4 2) = 0; 2 + x 8 = 0; x=8 2=6

Calculate oxidation number of hromium

+1 x 2

K2Cr2O7
(2 +1) +2x +(7 2) = 0; 2 + 2x 14 = 0; 2x = 14 2 = 12; x=6

Names of inorganic compounds

Acids
Hydrofluoric Acid HF Hydrochloric Acid - HCl Hydrobromic Acid HBr Hydroiodic Acid HI Hydrosulfuric Acid - H2S Nitric Acid - HNO3 Nitrous Acid - HNO2 Hypochlorous Acid HClO Chloric Acid - HClO3 Perchloric Acid - HClO4 Sulfuric Acid - H2SO4 Sulfurous Acid - H2SO3 Phosphoric Acid - H3PO4 Phosphorous Acid - H3PO3 Carbonic Acid - H2CO3 Acetic Acid - HC2H3O2 Boric Acid - H3BO3

Bases
Sodium Hydroxide - NaOH Potassium Hydroxide KOH Lithium Hydroxide - LiOH Ammonium Hydroxide - NH4OH Calcium Hydroxide - Ca(OH)2 Magnesium Hydroxide - Mg(OH)2 Barium Hydroxide - Ba(OH)2 Aluminum Hydroxide - Al(OH)3 Ferrous Hydroxide or Iron (II) Hydroxide - Fe(OH)2 Ferric Hydroxide or Iron (III) Hydroxide - Fe(OH)3 Zinc Hydroxide - Zn(OH)2

Names of anions
Monatomic anions:
Cl chloride S2 sulfide P3 phosphide SO32 sulfite SO42 sulfate HSO3 hydrogen sulfite HCO3 hydrogen carbonate CO32 carbonate PO43 phosphate HPO42 hydrogen phosphate H2PO4 dihydrogen phosphate CrO42 chromate Cr2O72 dichromate BO33 borate AsO43 arsenate CN cyanide MnO4 permanganate

Poliatomic ions:
NH4+ ammonium H3O+ hydronium NO3 nitrate NO2 nitrite ClO hypochlorite ClO2 chlorite ClO3 chlorate ClO4 perchlorate

Names of salts
-2

Na2S sodium sulphide Na Cl sodium chloride +6 AlCl3 aluminium chloride Na SO sodium sulphate 2 4 +4 Na2S sodium sulphide Na2SO3 sodium sulphite
+5 -3

KNO3 potasium nitrate

+3

Ca3P2 calcium phosphide

+3

KNO2 potasium nitrite

Ca3(PO3)2 calcium phosphite

+5

Ca3(PO4)2 calcium phosphate