Determine the oxidation number of each element in (a) KNO_3 and (b) SO_4^{2-}
Question 17.5: Determine the oxidation number of each element in (a) KNO3 a...
(a) Potassium is a Group 1A metal; therefore, it has an oxidation number of +1 The oxidation number of each O atom is -2 (see Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers, Rule 3). Using these values and the fact that the sum of the oxidation numbers of all the atoms in a compound is zero, we can determine the oxidation number of N:
The oxidation numbers are K, +1; N, +5; O, -2.
(b) Because SO_4^{2-} is an ion, the sum of oxidation numbers of the S and the O atoms must be -2 the charge of the ion. The oxidation number of each O atom is -2 (Rule 3). Then
The oxidation numbers are S, +6; O, -2.
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