Oxidation state

Oxidation state is a concept in chemistry that describes the degree of oxidation (loss of electrons) of an atom in a chemical compound. Conceptually, the oxidation state, which may be positive, negative or zero, is the hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all bonds to atoms of different elements were 100% ionic.

Overview

An atom's oxidation state is a numeric value that represents the number of electrons that an atom has lost or gained due to chemical reactions. The oxidation state is an indicator of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a chemical compound. The oxidation state can be positive, negative, or zero, and it is represented by a Roman numeral. The oxidation state of an atom is not necessarily equal to its valence.

Determination of oxidation state

The oxidation state of an atom in a molecule can be determined by following a set of rules, known as the Oxidation State Rules. These rules are based on the assumption that electrons in a bond will be shared between atoms in a way that results in the most stable configuration.

Oxidation state in ionic compounds

In ionic compounds, the oxidation state of an atom is simply the charge of the ion. For example, in sodium chloride, the sodium ions have an oxidation state of +1, while the chloride ions have an oxidation state of -1.

Oxidation state in covalent compounds

In covalent compounds, the oxidation state of an atom can be more complex. The oxidation state of an atom in a covalent compound can be determined by assigning the electrons in each covalent bond to the more electronegative atom.

Oxidation state and redox reactions

The concept of oxidation state is also important in understanding redox reactions. In a redox reaction, the oxidation state of atoms changes as electrons are transferred between atoms. The atom that loses electrons is said to be oxidized, while the atom that gains electrons is said to be reduced.

See also

• Redox
• Oxidation-reduction reaction
• Electron configuration
• Chemical bond
• Ionic bond
• Covalent bond

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