What are the oxidation numbers for carbon in carbon monoxide, and in methanol?
Answers
However, if you are referring to the oxidation state of the carbon atom in the compound CO, then the answer is +2, the oxygen atom having an oxidation state of -2. +2 is the oxidation number of C in compound CO ,because oxygen has -2 state.
The sum of the oxidation numbers equals the charge on the molecule, and both molecules are neutral.
Here are some rules that don't need to be remembered, but do have to be implicitly used.
1
.
The oxidation number of a free element is always 0.
2
.
The oxidation number of a mono-atomic ion is equal
to the charge of the ion.
3
.
For a given bond, X-Y, the bond is split to give
X
+
and
Y
−
,
where Y is more electronegative than X.
4
.
The oxidation number of H is +1, but it is -1 in when
combined with less electronegative elements.
5
.
The oxidation number of O in its
compounds
is usually -2, but it is -1 in peroxides.
6
.
The oxidation number of a Group 1 element in a
compound is +1.
7
.
The oxidation number of a Group 2 element in a
compound is +2.
8
.
The oxidation number of a Group 17 element in a binary
compound is -1.
9.
The SUM of the oxidation numbers of all of the
atoms in a neutral compound is ZERO.
10
.
The SUM of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion
is equal to the charge of the ion.