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Oxidation Number

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Maharashtra State Board: Class 12

Definition: Oxidation Number

Oxidation number (also called oxidation state) is the charge that an atom of an element appears to have when present in a combined state with other atoms. It is a hypothetical charge assigned by assuming all bonds are ionic — atoms in real molecules like H₂O do not actually carry these charges.

Maharashtra State Board: Class 12

Key Points: Oxidation Number

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers:

Species Rule
Free elements Oxidation number = 0 (e.g., Na, O₂, O₃, Hg, S₈, P₄)
Monoatomic ions Oxidation number = charge on the ion (e.g., Mn²⁺ = +2, Cr³⁺ = +3)
Fluorine Always −1 in all compounds
Oxygen Usually −2; Exceptions: −1 in peroxides (H₂O₂), −1/2 in superoxides (KO₂), +2 in oxygen fluoride (OF₂)
Hydrogen Usually +1; Exception: −1 in metal hydrides (e.g., CaH₂, NaH)
Halogens (Cl, Br, I) Usually −1 in binary compounds; can be positive when bonded to a more electronegative element or oxygen
Neutral compound Sum of all oxidation numbers = 0
Polyatomic ion Sum of all oxidation numbers = charge on the ion
  • Oxidation number of N can be −3 (bonded to less electronegative atoms) or +3 (bonded to more electronegative atoms)
  • Oxidation number of halogens is always −1 in metal halides
  • In interhalogen compounds, the more electronegative halogen gets the oxidation number of −1
  • Oxidation number of metals in amalgams and carbonyls is zero (e.g., Fe in [Fe(CO)₅] = 0)
  • In complex ions, the algebraic sum of oxidation numbers of all atoms = net charge on the ion
  • Oxidation number can be positive, negative, zero, a whole number, or a fraction
  • Oxidation number greater than +6 or less than −4 is unusual — double-check for errors

Stock Notation

Variable oxidation states are indicated using Roman numerals in parentheses after the element symbol:

Formula Name Stock Notation
Cu₂O Cuprous oxide Copper (I) oxide
Fe₂O₃ Ferric oxide Iron (III) oxide
HgCl₂ Mercuric chloride Mercury (II) chloride
SnCl₂ Stannous chloride Tin (II) chloride
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