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CHEM 121 Studioby Learn4Less · UBC CHEM 121

CHEM 121 glossary

Oxidation state

The charge an atom would carry if every bond were fully ionic, with each bonding pair given to the more electronegative atom (and bonds between identical atoms split evenly). The oxidation states in a species add up to its overall charge.

Example

In HNOX3\ce{HNO3}: H is +1+1, each O is −2-2, so 1+x+3(−2)=01 + x + 3(-2) = 0 and N is +5+5. In CHX3OH\ce{CH3OH}, C is −2-2.

See alsoOxidationReductionFormal chargeElectronegativity