Question

What is oxidation number? Whats the difference between oxidation number of an element and charge on an element?A re both the same?

Answer 1

Dear student!

Oxidation no. is defined as the charge which an atom appears to have when it is in combination.

So,in case of ionic compounds , oxidation no. is equal to the charge on the ions developed by the loss or gain of the electrons.

But, in case of covalent bond the oxidation no. varies for similar atoms in different compounds.

We, can however say that, both the oxidation no. and charge are the same, but the only difference is that, charge is calculated when the element is in ionic state but, the oxidation no. is assigned even when the element is in a neutral molecule.