Essential Chemistry for IGCSE - Chemical Reactions (Section 5 - No. 5)
Which of the following statements about oxidation numbers is correct?
The oxidation number is the actual charge on an atom in a molecule.
The sum of oxidation numbers for the atoms in a molecule always equals zero.
The oxidation number of an element in its elemental form is zero.
The oxidation number of an ion is equal to the charge on the ion.
Explanation
Oxidation number of an element in a compound is the charge the atom would have if the bonds were completely ionic. The sum of oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero. The oxidation number of an element in its elemental form is zero. The oxidation number of an ion is the same as its charge.
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