Question

C4H4O6-2 what is oxidation number? explain how it can be fractional

Answer 1

Answer:

 

Explanation:

This is just a single compound

There can be more isomers of it

but the avg ON will be same

Answer 2

Oxidation number of H = +1

Oxidation number of O = -2

$C_{4} H_{4}O_{6} ^{-2}$ is an ionic species.

Sum of the oxidation numbers of all atoms = – 2

therefore,

4 × (Oxidation number of C) + 4 × (Oxidation number of H) + 6 × (Oxidation number of O) = – 2

That is,

4 × (Oxidation number of C) + 4 × (+1) +6 × (-2) = -2  

that implies,

4 × (Oxidation number of C) + 4 – 12 = -2

4 × (Oxidation number of C) = – 2 + 8

Oxidation number of C =  + 6 4 +64  

Hence,

Oxidation number of C in $C_{4} H_{4}O_{6} ^{-2}$ = +1.5