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How come atoms have only a few oxidation numbers they can assume? For example, Cl can have the oxidation numbers -1, 1, 3, 5, 7. What prevents it from having an oxidation number of say, 2 or 4?
Oxidation numbers are a representation of the number of electrons that an atom has either gained or lost in a chemical reaction. It is used to track the flow of electrons in a reaction and determine the overall charge of an atom or molecule.
Oxidation numbers are determined based on a set of rules. The most common method is to assign oxidation numbers based on the electronegativity of the atoms involved in the reaction. The more electronegative atom is assigned a negative oxidation number, while the less electronegative atom is assigned a positive oxidation number.
Oxidation numbers play a crucial role in determining the type of chemical reaction that is taking place. They also help in balancing equations and predicting the products of a reaction. Additionally, they are used to classify elements as oxidizing agents or reducing agents.
Yes, oxidation numbers can change in a chemical reaction. This is because the number of electrons an atom gains or loses may vary depending on the type of reaction and the other atoms involved. In a redox reaction, oxidation numbers of some atoms will increase while those of others will decrease.
To calculate the oxidation number of a compound, you need to know the individual oxidation numbers of each element in the compound. Then, you can use the overall charge of the compound to determine the oxidation number of the element with an unknown oxidation number. Alternatively, you can use the sum of individual oxidation numbers to calculate the overall charge of the compound.