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Lecture 1-1 - Electrochemistry - Intro, Oxidation Numbers
Lecture 1-1 - Electrochemistry - Intro, Oxidation Numbers
Lecture 1-1 - Electrochemistry - Intro, Oxidation Numbers
David A. Agbayani
0 0 0
H2 O2 Na
Rules
1. Free elements: oxidation number is zero
• e.g. H2, O2, Na
2. Ions composed of only one atom: oxidation
number is same as charge on the ion
• e.g. O2-, Na+
-2 +1 0
O 2-
Na +
Na arge !
No ch
Rules
3. Oxygen: -2 in most compounds, -1 in
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and peroxide ion
(O22-)
-2 -1 -1
H2O H2O2 O2 2-
Rules
4. Hydrogen: +1 in most compounds, -1 when
-1 -1 -1
Fl -
Cl -
Br -
Rules
6. In a neutral molecule, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the atoms must be zero.
ch arge !
verall
no o
ul e has
Molec
+1 -1
H2O2
2 × (+1) + 2 × (-1) = 0
Rules
7. In a polyatomic ion, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the elements in the ion must
be equal to the net charge of the ion.
ch arg e!
overall
Molec
ul eha s +1 -2
H3O +
3 × (+1) + 1 × (-2) = +1
Rules (Recap Part 2 of 2)
5. Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine: -1
when occurring as halide ions
6. In a neutral molecule, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the atoms must be zero.
7. In a polyatomic ion, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the elements in the ion must
be equal to the net charge of the ion.
Exercises!
• Assign oxidation numbers to all the
elements in the following compounds:
1. Na2O
2. HNO2
3. Cr2O72-