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What are oxidation numbers and how do they work?
Oxidation numbers are a way to keep track of the number of electrons an atom has gained or lost in a chemical reaction. They are represented by a positive or negative number and indicate the overall charge of an atom.
There are a few rules for determining oxidation numbers. In general, atoms in their elemental form have an oxidation number of 0. For ions, the oxidation number is equal to the charge of the ion. In compounds, the more electronegative element is assigned a negative oxidation number while the less electronegative element is assigned a positive oxidation number.
Oxidation numbers are important because they help us understand the transfer of electrons in a chemical reaction. They also allow us to predict the products of a reaction and determine the oxidation state of an element in a compound.
Oxidation numbers are used to balance equations by ensuring that the total charge on each side of the equation is equal. This can be achieved by adjusting the oxidation numbers of certain atoms in the reactants and products.
Yes, oxidation numbers can be fractional. This occurs when an atom shares electrons equally with another atom in a covalent bond. For example, in H2O, the oxidation number of oxygen is -0.5 since it shares electrons equally with two hydrogen atoms.