Multiple Choice
What is the oxidation number of the sulfur atom in SO_4^{2-}?
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6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions
Calculate Oxidation Numbers
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What is the oxidation number of each oxygen atom in an O2 molecule?
A
0
B
-2
C
+2
D
-1
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that the oxidation number (oxidation state) of an atom in its elemental form is always zero. This is a fundamental rule in assigning oxidation numbers.
Identify the molecule given: O2 is a diatomic molecule consisting of two oxygen atoms bonded together, and it exists in its elemental form.
Since O2 is elemental oxygen, each oxygen atom has the same oxidation number, and the sum of the oxidation numbers in the molecule must equal zero because the molecule is neutral.
Apply the rule that elemental forms have oxidation numbers of zero, so each oxygen atom in O2 has an oxidation number of 0.
Conclude that the oxidation number of each oxygen atom in an O2 molecule is 0.
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