Question

find the oxidation number of 2HCL​

Answer 1

Answer:

How would I assign individual oxidation numbers to the constituent atoms of hydrochloric acid? Attend.

Explanation:

We have a

H

−

C

l

molecule; when we break the bond (conceptually!) the 2 bonding electrons are assumed to go to the most electronegative atom, which is

C

l

. So we get

H

+

and

C

l

−

. By definition, the oxidation number is the charge left on the central atom when all of the bonding electrons pairs are broken. Therefore, oxidation number of

H

=

+

I

, and oxidation number of

C

l

=

−

I

.

Try doing this for

F

−

C

l

,

H

2

O

, and

C

F

4

.