Question

What is the oxidation number of hydrogen?

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 hydrogen(H):

• Generally, the oxidation number of hydrogen is $+1$.
• When hydrogen is linked to metals in binary compounds, hydrogen has an oxidation number of $–1$.
• For example, in $\mathrm{LiH}$, $\mathrm{NaH}$, the oxidation number of hydrogen is $–1$.