Question

Find the oxidation number of carbon in ZnCO3

Answer 1

Dear student,

oxidation number of zinc is +2 and the oxidation number of oxygen is -2.

In the given compound there is three Oxygen atom each with a charge of -2 = 3 x -2 = -6

The overall charge on the compound is 0.

This means that the oxidation number of the carbon,
2 + x +(-6) = 0
x = +4
Therefore, the oxidation number of carbon is +4.

Regards