OXIDATION STATES (OXIDATION NUMBERS)

Examples of working out oxidation states

1. What is the oxidation state of chromium in CrCl3?

This is a neutral compound so the sum of the oxidation states is zero.

Chlorine has an oxidation state of -1. If the oxidation state of chromium is n:

n + 3(-1) = 0

n = +3
2. What is the oxidation state of chromium in the dichromate ion, Cr2O72-?

The oxidation state of the oxygen is -2, and

the sum of the oxidation states is equal to the charge on the ion.
Don't forget that there are 2 chromium atoms present.

2n + 7(-2) = -2

n = +6
1
OXIDATION STATES (OXIDATION NUMBERS)

Example 1: There were changes

in oxidation number.
This is a redox reaction.

Example 2: Nothing has changed.

This is not a redox
reaction.

Example 3:

The chlorine is the only thing to have changed oxidation state.

One atom has been reduced. The other has been oxidised.
This is an example of a disproportionation reaction; 2
it is one in which a single substance is both oxidised and reduced.