March 29, 2024, 09:57:55 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Help with Oxidation numbers.  (Read 4928 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline HowDoIScience

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 3
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Help with Oxidation numbers.
« on: October 23, 2018, 11:24:53 AM »
So we had a midterm today and the question was "Which of these compounds has the atom with the highest oxidation number?"

A= CaS
B= Na3N
C= MgSO3
D= Al2O3
E= NH4Cl

I got it wrong in the exam I think so I went and worked it out, I'm pretty sure it was C after I had went back and looked at it.  I got Sulfur with +4 as the reason why it is the atom with the highest oxidation number.

So my friend, bless his patient soul, who is basically a walking encyclopedia, said he worked it out by the transfer of the electrons  (Mg (-2)), (S (+2)), O(+2) in order to gain full shells of electrons. So I'm just wondering is that another way to work out the answer?  I don't want to wreck his head any further. 

So basically I'm asking is there another way to work out oxidation numbers like from the amount of electrons it needs to gain or lose?

And why does Sulfur in MgSO3 have an oxidation number of +4?




Offline Borek

  • Mr. pH
  • Administrator
  • Deity Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27635
  • Mole Snacks: +1799/-410
  • Gender: Male
  • I am known to be occasionally wrong.
    • Chembuddy
Re: Help with Oxidation numbers.
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2018, 12:55:21 PM »
First of all - there are simple rules to follow. Do you know them?

http://www.chembuddy.com/?left=balancing-stoichiometry&right=oxidation-numbers-method
ChemBuddy chemical calculators - stoichiometry, pH, concentration, buffer preparation, titrations.info

Offline HowDoIScience

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 3
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Help with Oxidation numbers.
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2018, 01:10:39 PM »
First of all - there are simple rules to follow. Do you know them?

http://www.chembuddy.com/?left=balancing-stoichiometry&right=oxidation-numbers-method

I know most of the rules,  some of them are new in reading that I will admit.

So is that literally the only way to work out the oxidation numbers,  there is no other way? Also is MgSO3 the right answer? 

Offline Borek

  • Mr. pH
  • Administrator
  • Deity Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27635
  • Mole Snacks: +1799/-410
  • Gender: Male
  • I am known to be occasionally wrong.
    • Chembuddy
Re: Help with Oxidation numbers.
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2018, 01:36:28 PM »
So is that literally the only way to work out the oxidation numbers,  there is no other way?

Yes.

Quote
Also is MgSO3 the right answer?

Why don't you try to apply the rules and calculate? That's basically how you do the science.
ChemBuddy chemical calculators - stoichiometry, pH, concentration, buffer preparation, titrations.info

Offline HowDoIScience

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 3
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Help with Oxidation numbers.
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2018, 02:32:52 PM »
So is that literally the only way to work out the oxidation numbers,  there is no other way?

Yes.

Quote
Also is MgSO3 the right answer?

Why don't you try to apply the rules and calculate? That's basically how you do the science.

I have, but I'm unsure I'm correct,  that is the only reason I'm asking. I've done it for each of the compounds, and I think it's MgSO3 but I'm not one hundred percent positive.

Offline chenbeier

  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1348
  • Mole Snacks: +102/-22
  • Gender: Male
Re: Help with Oxidation numbers.
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2018, 03:09:41 PM »
Yes you are right Sulphur has the highest oxidation number.

Offline Enthalpy

  • Chemist
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4041
  • Mole Snacks: +304/-59
Re: Help with Oxidation numbers.
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2018, 09:39:05 AM »
The nearest octet (sulphur gaining 2 electrons) isn't always the sole possibility. Most elements can have many oxidation states. For instance CO and CO2 are both stable.

Sponsored Links