Question

What are the oxidation numbers of oxygen? Give an example

Answer 1

Oxidation number:

• “Oxidation number denotes the oxidation state of an element in a compound ascertained according to a set of rules formulated on the basis that electron pair in a covalent bond belongs entirely to a more electronegative element.”

Oxidation number of Oxygen:

• The most common oxidation number of Oxygen is $-2$.
• The oxidation number in Oxygen varies in different compounds.
• The oxidation number of oxygen in elemental Oxygen $\left({\mathrm{O}}_2\right)$ is$0$.