Chapter 4
Q. 4.7
Assigning Oxidation Numbers Use the rules from Table 4.5 to obtain the oxidation number of the chlorine atom in each of the following: (a) HClO_4 (perchloric acid), (b) ClO_3^- (chlorate ion).
PROBLEM STRATEGY
In each case, write the expression for the sum of the oxidation numbers, equating this to zero for a compound or to the charge for an ion (Rule 6). Now, use Rules 2 to 5 to substitute oxidation numbers for particular atoms, such as -2 for oxygen and +1 for hydrogen, and solve for the unknown oxidation number (Cl in this example).
Table 4.5
| Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers | ||
| Rule | Applies to | Statement |
| 1 | Elements | The oxidation number of an atom in an element is zero. |
| 2 | Monatomic ions | The oxidation number of an atom in a monatomic ion equals the charge on the ion. |
| 3 | Oxygen | The oxidation number of oxygen is -2 in most of its compounds. (An exception is O in H_2O_2 and other |
| 4 | Hydrogen | The oxidation number of hydrogen is + 1 in most of its compounds. (The oxidation number of hydrogen is -1 in binary compounds with a metal, such as CaH_2.) |
| 5 | Halogens | The oxidation number of fluorine is -1 in all of its compounds. Each of the other halogens (Cl, Br, I) has an oxidation number of -1 in binary compounds, except when the other element is another halogen above it in the periodic table or the other element is oxygen. |
| 6 | Compounds and ions | The sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms in a compound is zero. The sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms in a polyatomic ion equals the charge on the ion. |
Step-by-Step
Verified Solution
a. For perchloric acid, Rule 6 gives the equation
(Oxidation number of H) + (oxidation number of Cl) + 4 × (oxidation number of O) = 0
Using Rules 3 and 4, you obtain
(+1) + (oxidation number of Cl) + 4 × (-2) = 0
Therefore,
Oxidation number of Cl (in HClO_4) = -(+1) – 4 × (-2) = +7
b. For the chlorate ion, Rule 6 gives the equation
(Oxidation number of Cl) + 3 × (oxidation number of O) = -1
Using Rule 3, you obtain
(Oxidation number of Cl) + 3 × (-2) = -1
Therefore,
Oxidation number of Cl (in ClO_3^-) = -1 – 3 × (-2) = +5
ANSWER CHECK
As most compounds do not have elements with very large positive or very large negative oxidation numbers, you should always be on the alert for a possible assignment mistake when you find oxidation states greater than +6 or less than -4. (From this example you see that a +7 oxidation state is possible; however, it only occurs in a limited number of cases.)