Question

What is the oxidation number of k in k2SO4? ​

Answer 1

Oxidation number (ON) or state simply tells the degree of oxidation of a species. The species may be an element, ion, compound or the elements/ ions in a compound.

For any compound, its overall oxidation number (ON) is assigned zero. The individual ON of each species is added up to give a total of zero.

In the case of the compound, potassium sulphate, K2SO4, the common ON of potassium, K is +1 & oxygen, O is -2. Now let the unknown ON of the sulphur, S be X.

K2SO4 = 2(+1) + X + 4(-2) = 0

From this X = +6. ie, the ON of sulphur is +6

Answer 2

The oxidation number of K in K₂SO₄ is +1

EXPLANATION

• Oxidation nunber can be defined as the charge on an atom when forming an ionic bond with another atom.
• Some rules to find oxidation of an ion in a compound are as follows;

1. The oxidation number on a neutral compound is zero.
2. The charge/oxidation number of individual ions of a compund add upto zero.
3. The oxidation number of group 1 elements of the periodic table is +1.
4. The oxidation number of group 2 elements in the periodic table is -2.
5. The oxidation state of charged ion is equal to the net charge of the ion.

• In the given problem, K₂SO₄ can be written as;

K₂SO₄ -----------> 2k⁺ + (SO₄)⁻²

• Let the oxidation state of K be x.

Therefore,

2x + (-2) = 0

2x = 2

x = +1

Hence, The answer is +1

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