35k views

### Oxidation number for nitrogen in ammonium sulfate [duplicate]

I'm trying to find the oxidation number of $\ce N$ in $\ce{(NH4)2SO4}$. The answer is supposed to be $-3$ but I can't figure out the logic behind this.
679 views

### How do I solve oxidation numbers for unknown elements? [duplicate]

I am doing very well with oxidation numbers but I have a few problems. I know all the rules but when I get an element where I can't use any of the constant oxidation numbers what do I do? For example: ...
191 views

### what is the exact meaning of oxidation state? [duplicate]

can you mention the concept of oxidation state without its simple definition i-e it is the apparent charge +ve or -ve.....😪 I found these in wikipedia but didn't understand."Conceptually, the ...
24 views

### What exactly is “oxidation state”? [duplicate]

the textbooks say that it is the amount of electrons lost or gained by an atom in a bond but in a covalent molecule the atoms never technically lose electrons ,instead share them to in such a way to ...
20k views

### What should be the oxidation state of oxygen in HOF (hypofluorous acid)?

What should be the oxidation state of oxygen in $\ce{HOF}$ (hypofluorous acid)? Sources on the internet have confused me. Most state its oxidation state to be 0, while the others state that it is -2 (...
38k views

### Why isn't water an ionic compound?

If two alkali metal atoms join with an oxygen atom, an ionic bond forms. Since hydrogen has the same number of valence electrons as alkali metals, why can't water be ionic? This is what I'm thinking:...
32k views

### Oxidation state of the sulfur atoms in the thiosulfate Ion

What are the oxidation states of the two inequivalent sulfur atoms of the $\ce{S2O3^{2-}}$ molecule? For all I know is that Lewis Structure does matter in most of the cases.
3k views

### How to name binary (inorganic) compounds given their chemical formula, and vice-versa?

I wish to understand how to name binary (inorganic) compounds when given their formula. When I am a given compound like $\ce{B2F2}$ or $\ce{N2O4}$, I have little to no clue on how to write their ...
5k views

### Electronegativity Considerations in Assigning Oxidation States

I have never seen anything other than a set of rules like these when textbooks present how to assign oxidation numbers. Such as these: However, if we keep in mind that oxidation numbers are simply ...
803 views

### How is it possible to obtain a value of 8/3 as an oxidation state?

Iron's oxidation state in $\ce{Fe3O4}$. I really can't get the logic behind this.
3k views

### Oxidation state of fluorine in HOF

What should be the oxidation state of $\ce{F}$ in $\ce{HOF}$. As fluorine is the most electronegative element in the periodic table, it should be $-1$. But when I googled it, I found that many ...
164 views

### Are such high oxidation states as reported by Vojovodic et al. possible?

I am a student in theoretical chemistry and I am confused about the paper: Trends in adsorption of electrocatalytic water splitting intermediates on cubic $\ce{ABO3}$ oxides (Montoya, J. H.; Doyle, A. ...
2k views

### Average Oxidation State - Utility?

What is the purpose of calculating an average oxidation state for a certain element in a compound? Hence the “average oxidation state” of carbon in acetic acid is 0. And the oxidation state ...
527 views

### Why are lithides not known?

In the last few decades, many alkalides - anions of alkali metals - have been synthesised. The most famous is undoubtedly that of sodium: $\ce{[Na(\text{2.2.2-cryptand})]+Na-}$, but the alkalides \$\ce{...
502 views

### What is meant by fractional oxidation state? [closed]

What is the real concept behind oxidation state?