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What is oxidation state and how to understand its basic concepts?
Asked by Mir Last Modified
The oxidation state! It's a fundamental concept in chemistry that helps us understand the behavior of atoms and molecules.
*What is Oxidation State?*
Oxidation state (OS) is a measure of the number of electrons an atom has gained or lost in a chemical reaction. It's a way to keep track of the electron transfer between atoms.
*Key Concepts:*
1. *Oxidation*: Loss of electrons (increase in OS)
2. *Reduction*: Gain of electrons (decrease in OS)
3. *Neutral*: No change in OS (no electron transfer)
*How to Determine Oxidation State:*
1. *Free Atoms*: The OS of a free atom is 0.
2. *Monatomic Ions*: The OS of a monatomic ion is equal to its charge.
3. *Molecules*: The sum of the OS of all atoms in a molecule is 0.
4. *Polyatomic Ions*: The sum of the OS of all atoms in a polyatomic ion is equal to its charge.
*Rules to Assign Oxidation State:*
1. *Alkali Metals*: +1 (Group 1)
2. *Alkaline Earth Metals*: +2 (Group 2)
3. *Halogens*: -1 (Group 17)
4. *Oxygen*: -2 (except in peroxides, where it's -1)
5. *Hydrogen*: +1 (except in hydrides, where it's -1)
*Examples:*
1. NaCl: Na (+1), Cl (-1)
2. H2O: H (+1), O (-2)
3. CO2: C (+4), O (-2)
*Tips to Understand Oxidation State:*
1. *Practice*: Assign OS to atoms in different molecules and ions.
2. *Use the Rules*: Follow the rules to assign OS.
3. *Keep Track of Electrons*: Remember that OS is a measure of electron transfer.
By mastering the concept of oxidation state, you'll gain a deeper understanding of chemical reactions, redox processes, and the behavior of atoms and molecules.
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