Understanding Oxidation Numbers in Compounds

What are the oxidation numbers of each atom in the following substances?

a. NF

b. KCO

c. NOS

d. HIO4

Answer:

a. NF: The oxidation number of nitrogen is +3 and the oxidation number of fluorine is -1.

b. KCO: The oxidation number of potassium is +1, the oxidation number of carbon is +4, and the oxidation number of oxygen is -2.

c. NOS: The oxidation number of nitrogen is +2, the oxidation number of oxygen is -2, and the oxidation number of sulfur is +6.

d. HIO4: The oxidation number of hydrogen is +1, the oxidation number of iodine is +7, and the oxidation number of oxygen is -2.

Understanding Oxidation Numbers in Compounds

Oxidation numbers play a crucial role in understanding chemical reactions and the behavior of compounds. When determining the oxidation number of each atom in a compound, it is essential to follow certain rules and conventions. In the given compounds:

a. NF: The oxidation number of nitrogen in NF is +3 because fluorine is more electronegative than nitrogen. Therefore, fluorine takes on an oxidation number of -1 in this compound.

b. KCO: In KCO, potassium has an oxidation number of +1, carbon has an oxidation number of +4, and oxygen has an oxidation number of -2. This follows the rules of assigning oxidation numbers based on electronegativity and known values for common elements.

c. NOS: When looking at NOS, the oxidation number of nitrogen is +2, oxygen is -2, and sulfur is +6. These values reflect the electron sharing and transfer within the compound.

d. HIO4: In the compound HIO4, hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1, iodine has an oxidation number of +7, and oxygen has an oxidation number of -2. This distribution of oxidation numbers allows us to understand the stability and reactivity of the compound.

By understanding oxidation numbers in compounds, scientists can predict how elements will interact in chemical reactions and determine the overall charge of a compound. This knowledge is essential for various fields of chemistry and contributes to our understanding of the natural world.