Question

Oxidation state of fe2(So4)3

Answer 1

ANSWER:

It comes under a double salt of ferrous sulfate and ammonium sulfate. In ferrous sulfate, a polyatomic anion which has -2 charges is sulfate. Therefore, +2 charged iron is required to neutralize the -2 charge of sulfate ion. Hence, the oxidation state of Fe in Mohr salt is +2.

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HINT:

• We can define oxidation state as oxidation degree (loss of an electron) in a chemical compound. We can calculate the oxidation state by an element in a compound by the help of the rules of oxidation numbers.

EXPLAINING:

• We know that oxidation state is the loss of an electron in a chemical compound. We can now see a few rules of oxidation numbers.

• A free element would have zero as its oxidation number.

• Monatomic ions would have an oxidation number same as the charge of the ion.

• In hydrogen, the oxidation number is + 1, + 1, when combined with elements showing less electronegativity, the oxidation number of hydrogen would -1.

• In compounds of oxygen, the oxidation number of oxygen would be -2 and in peroxides, the oxidation state would be -1.

• Elements present in group 1 could contain +1 oxidation number.

• Elements present in group 2 could contain +2 oxidation numbers.

• Elements in group 17 could contain -1 oxidation number.

• Total of oxidation number of all atoms seen in neutral compounds is zero.

• In polyatomic ions, the sum of the oxidation number is similar to the ionic charge.