Question

The oxidation number of an element can be zero.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is A

True

Oxidation number is the total number of electrons either gained or lost by an atom on its bond formation.

The oxidation number of all the atoms of different elements in their respective elementary states is taken to be zero. For example, in $N_2$, $C{l}_2$, $H_2$, $P_4$, $S_8$, $O_2$, $B{r}_2$, Na, Fe, Ag etc. the oxidation number of each atom is zero.