Oxidation number of carbon in (NH4)2C2O4

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SUMMARY

The oxidation number of carbon in the compound (NH4)2C2O4 is +3, while nitrogen has an oxidation number of -3. This conclusion is derived from the oxidation states of hydrogen (+1) and oxygen (-2) within their respective ions. The total charge of the ammonium ion (NH4+) and the oxalate ion (C2O42-) confirms these values, correcting the initial assumption of carbon being +4.

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Emmanuel_Euler
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What is the Oxidation Number of Carbon and Nitrogen In this compound (NH4)2C2O4?? i think the oxidation number of carbon is (+4) and Nitrogen is (-4).
am i true?? or not?
Note:this is not a homework.
 
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I can't judge whether you are true :-)
I only can tell you that you are wrong.
 
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DrDu said:
I can't judge whether you are true :-)
I only can tell you that you are wrong.
Can you tell me why and where ??
 
So let's take NH4-: H has oxidation number +1 and the oxidation numbers have to sum up to the total charge of the ion, -1. That gives -3 for nitrogen. Same argument with C2O42-: Oxygen has oxidation number -2. Leaves me with +3 for carbon.
 
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@DrDu - confusing typo in your post, it is NH4+ - unless it was premeditated :wink:
 
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Thank you guys. I thought that carbon has a oxidation number of +4 in this compound.
Thank you so much for help.
 

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