Question

Find the oxidation number of carbon in the following compounds: CH₄, CO, H₂CO₃, K₂CO₃

Answer 1

Oxidation number is a number assigned to an element in chemical combination or compound form which indicates the number of electrons lost or gained, by an atom of that element in the compound.oxidation number of Carbon in the following compounds are indicated below:

CH₄, ………………………………..+4Xx1 -4x1=0   therefore,  

X=4:CO………………………………………+2     Xx1 -2=0  

X= +2:H₂CO₃…………………………..+4        

 2x+1+Xx1-3x2=0        

 X = +4:   K₂CO₃………………………………+4      

 2x+1+Xx1-3x2=0   X=+4

Answer 2

CH₄ = +4

CO = +2

H₂CO₃ = +8

K₂CO₃ = -7