What is the likely formula for the substance CH?Cl2?
The answer is CH2Cl2.
I know that C is 4+, H is 1-, and Cl is 1-, which gives a net charge of 0. My question is, how do you know whether the element's oxidation number is positive or negative? Couldn't C at 4-, H at 1+, and Cl at 1+ have worked as well, since each of these elements could either be positive or negative? What am I missing here? I'd appreciate any advice.