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Question

Why in the case of H2O2 the oxidation state of Oxygen is -1?

When we have to take the oxidation state for oxygen as -1?

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Solution

The oxidation number of H is +1. The oxidation number of O is -1

You assign oxidation numbers to the elements in a compound by using the Rules for Oxidation Numbers.

The important rules for this problem are:

  1. The oxidation number of H is +1, but it is -1 in when combined with less electronegative elements.

  2. The oxidation number of O in compounds is usually -2, but it is -1 in peroxides.

  3. The sum of the oxidation numbers of all the atoms in a neutral compound is 0.

The oxidation number of H is +1 (Rule 1).

If you know that H2O2 is hydrogen peroxide, you can immediately assign oxygen the ON = -1.

If you don't know that H2O2 is hydrogen peroxide, you can use Rule 3.

The oxidation number of H is +1. For two H atoms, the sum is +2.

Since H2O2 has no charge, the total oxidation number of the two O atoms must be -2.

The oxidation number of one oxygen atom must be -1.


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