Guest

What is oxidation number?and how do we get this?

What is oxidation number?and how do we get this?

Grade:11

2 Answers

SAGAR SINGH - IIT DELHI
878 Points
13 years ago

Dear student,

Electrochemical reactions involve the transfer of electrons. Mass and charge are conserved when balancing these reactions, but you need to know which atoms are oxidized and which atoms are reduced during the reaction. Oxidation numbers are used to keep track of how many electrons are lost or gained by each atom.

Vikas TU
14149 Points
13 years ago

Oxidising number is the number of electrons gained or lost by an element or compound. For example - oxidation number of oxygen is  -2 it means it can gain two electrons to complete its octate to get stability.      or   Number of electrons required by an element to complete its octate.

 

Example - In H2SO4 we have to find oxidising number of sulphur.

Let us suppose it is 'x' then (+1*2) + (x) + (4* -2)= 0

 [where 4 and 2 are the number of atoms, while +1 and -2 are oxidation numbers of hydrogen and oxygen]

By solving it, we get x = +6

This is oxidation number of sulphur.

Think You Can Provide A Better Answer ?

ASK QUESTION

Get your questions answered by the expert for free