Section 2 - Oxidation Numbers

Question 1

What do oxidation numbers tell you?

Answer 1

The charge on an atom

Question 2

What is another term for oxidation numbers?

Answer 2

Oxidation states

Question 3

What can be used to show what oxidation number a certain number has?

Answer 3

Roman numerals

Question 4

What are the 4 different rules about oxidation numbers?

Answer 4

1) Elements that aren’t bonded to anything else have an oxidation number of 0.
2) Elements that are bonded to identical atoms also have an oxidation number of 0.
3) The oxidation number of an ion made up of just one atom is the same as its charge.
4) For molecular ions, the overall charge of the whole ion is equal to the sum of the oxidation numbers of the individual atoms or ions.