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Topic: Quick Question  (Read 3268 times)

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Offline Kyle

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Quick Question
« on: November 01, 2006, 08:25:10 PM »
Can an oxidation number be a fraction?
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Offline constant thinker

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Re: Quick Question
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2006, 08:49:17 PM »
Can you have half a bond?
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Offline Yggdrasil

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Re: Quick Question
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2006, 09:23:41 PM »
No.  The oxidation number of a single atom must be an integer for the reason given by constant thinker.  However, if you are calculating the oxidation number of a collection of atoms in a molecule (like the carbons in O=(CH3)2 (acetone)), you can get a fractional oxidation number.  The fraction arises because it is the average of the oxidation states of the carbon atoms.
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Offline AWK

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Re: Quick Question
« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2006, 03:13:01 AM »
Quote
O=(CH3)2 (acetone)
Acetone is O=C(CH3)2
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