Question

What is the oxidation state of carbon in HCO3-?

Answer 1

Answer:

Anyway, the oxidation number of carbon here is +IV…that of oxygen -II, and that of hydrogen +I.. The weighted sum of the oxidation numbers equals the charge on the bicarbonate ion, i.e. -1.

Answer 2

Given:

The given compound is $HCO_3^-$.

To find:

We have to find the oxidation state of C.

Solution:

The given compound is $HCO_3^-$.

The change of the H atom is +1.

The charge of the Oxygen atom is -2.

The overall charge of the ion is -1.

Let the oxidation state of C be x.

So, we can write-

$+ 1 + x - 2 \times 3 = - 1 \\ + 1 + x - 6 = - 1 \\ x = + 4$

The value of x is +4.

So, the oxidation state of C is +4.