How to Find Oxidation Numbers

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

In chemistry, the terms "oxidation" and "reduction" refer to reactions in which an atom (or group of atoms) loses or gains electrons, respectively. Oxidation numbers are numbers assigned to atoms (or groups of atoms) that help chemists keep track of how many electrons are available for transfer and whether given reactants are oxidized or reduced in a reaction. The process of assigning oxidation numbers to atoms can range from remarkably simple to somewhat complex, based on the charge of the atoms and the chemical composition of the molecules they are a part of. To complicate matters, some elements can have more than one oxidation number. Luckily, the assignment of oxidation numbers is governed by well-defined, easy-to follow rules, though knowledge of basic chemistry and algebra will make navigation of these rules much easier. [1]

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Assigning Oxidation Numbers Based on Chemical Rules

PDF download Download Article
  1. Free, uncombined elemental atoms always have an oxidation number of 0. This is true both for atoms whose elemental form is composed of a lone atom, as well as atoms whose elemental form is diatomic or polyatomic. [2]
    • For example, Al (s) and Cl 2 both have oxidation numbers of 0 because they are in their uncombined elemental forms.
    • Note that sulfur's elemental form, S 8 , or octasulfur, though irregular, also has an oxidation number of 0.
  2. Ions have oxidation numbers equal to their charge. This is true both for ions that are not bound to any other elements as well as for ions that form part of an ionic compound. [3]
    • For instance, the ion Cl - has an oxidation number of -1.
    • The Cl ion still has an oxidation number of -1 when it's part of the compound NaCl. Because the Na + ion, by definition, has a charge of +1, we know that the Cl - ion has a charge of -1, so its oxidation number is still -1.
    Advertisement
  3. Many metallic elements can have more than one charge. For instance, the metal iron (Fe) can be an ion with a charge of either +2 or +3. [4] Metallic ions' charges (and thus oxidation numbers) can be determined either in relation to the charges of other atoms in the compound they are a part of, or, when written in text, by roman numeral notation (as in the sentence, "The iron(III) ion has a charge of +3.").
    • For example, let's examine a compound containing the metallic aluminum ion. The compound AlCl 3 has an overall charge of 0. Because we know that Cl - ions have a charge of -1 and there are 3 Cl - ions in the compound, the Al ion must have a charge of +3 so that the overall charge of all the ions adds to 0. Thus, Al's oxidation number is +3 in this compound.
  4. In almost all cases, oxygen atoms have oxidation numbers of -2. There are a few exceptions to this rule: [5]
    • When oxygen is in its elemental state (O 2 ), its oxidation number is 0, as is the case for all elemental atoms.
    • When oxygen is part of a peroxide, its oxidation number is -1. Peroxides are a class of compounds that contain an oxygen-oxygen single bond (or the peroxide anion O 2 -2 ). For instance, in the molecule H 2 O 2 (hydrogen peroxide), oxygen has an oxidation number (and a charge) of -1.
    • When oxygen is part of a superoxide , its oxidation number is -1⁄2. Superoxides contain the superoxide anion O 2 - .
    • When oxygen is bound to fluorine, its oxidation number is +2. See fluorine rule below for more info. However, there is an exception: in (O 2 F 2 ), the oxidation number of oxygen is +1.
  5. Like oxygen, hydrogen's oxidation number is subject to exceptional cases. Generally, hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1 (unless, as above, it's in its elemental form, H 2 ). However, in the case of special compounds called hydrides, hydrogen has an oxidation number of -1. [6]
    • For instance, in H 2 O, we know that hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1 because oxygen has a charge of -2 and we need two +1 charges to make the compound's charges add up to zero. However, in sodium hydride, NaH, hydrogen has an oxidation number of -1 because the Na + ion has a charge of +1 and, for the compound's total charge to equal zero, hydrogen's charge (and thus oxidation number) must equal -1.
  6. As noted above, the oxidation numbers of certain elements can vary for several factors (metal ions, oxygen atoms in peroxides, etc.) Fluorine, however, has an oxidation number of -1, which never changes. This is because fluorine is the most electronegative element - in other words, it is the element least-likely to give up any of its own electrons and most-likely to take another atom's. Therefore, its charge doesn't change. [7]
  7. The oxidation numbers of all the atoms in a compound must add up to the charge of that compound. For example, if a compound has no charge, the oxidation numbers of each of its atoms must add up to zero; if the compound is a polyatomic ion with a charge of -1, the oxidation numbers must add up to -1, etc. [8]
    • This is a good way to check your work - if the oxidation in your compounds don't add up to the charge of your compound, you know that you have assigned one or more incorrectly.
    8. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Assigning Numbers to Atoms Without Oxidation Number Rules

PDF download Download Article
  1. Some atoms don't have specific rules about the oxidation numbers they can have. If your atom doesn't appear in the rules above and you're unsure what its charge is (for instance, if it's part of a larger compound and thus its individual charge is not shown), you can find the atom's oxidation number by process of elimination. First, you'll determine the oxidation of every other atom in the compound, then you'll simply solve for the unknown based on the overall charge of the compound. [9]
    • For example, in the compound Na 2 SO 4 , the charge of sulfur (S) is unknown - it's not in its elemental form, so it's not 0, but that's all we know. This is a good candidate for this method of algebraic oxidation number determination.
  2. Using the rules for oxidation number assignment, assign oxidation numbers to the other atoms in the compound. Be on the lookout for any exceptional cases for O, H, etc.
    • In Na 2 SO 4 , we know, based on our set of rules, that the Na ion has a charge (and thus oxidation number) of +1 and that the oxygen atoms have oxidation numbers of -2.
  3. Now that we know the oxidation number of all of our atoms except for the unknown one, we need to account for the fact that some of these atoms may appear more than once. Multiply each atom's numeric coefficient (written in subscript after the atom's chemical symbol in the compound) by its oxidation number. [10]
    • In Na 2 SO 4 , we know there are 2 Na atoms and 4 O atoms. We would multiply 2 × +1, the oxidation number of Na, to get an answer of 2, and we would multiply 4 × -2, the oxidation number of O, to get an answer of -8.
  4. Adding the results of your multiplications together gives the compound's current oxidation number without taking into account the oxidation number of your unknown atom. [11]
    • In our Na 2 SO 4 example, we would add 2 to -8 to get -6.
  5. You now have everything you need to find your unknown oxidation number using simple algebra. Set an equation that has your answer from the previous step plus the unknown oxidation number equal to the compound's overall charge. In other words: (sum of known oxidation numbers) + (unknown oxidation number you are solving for) = (charge of the compound). [12]
    • In our Na 2 SO 4 example, we would solve as follows:
      • (Sum of known oxidation numbers) + (unknown oxidation number you are solving for) = (charge of the compound)
      • -6 + S = 0
      • S = 0 + 6
      • S = 6. S has an oxidation number of 6 in Na 2 SO 4 .
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What is so2cl2 oxidation number of s?
    Community Answer
    We know Oxygen generally shows a oxidation number of -2. Therefore oxidation number of oxygen in SO2Cl2 is -2*2=-4. Also Cl has an oxidation number of -1. Therefore oxidation number of Cl2 in SO2Cl2 is -1*2=-2. Let the oxidation number of S be X. Now the overall charge is 0. So -4+(-2)+X=0.Therefore X=6. Therefore oxidation number of S in SO2Cl2 is +6.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 53 Helpful 240
  • Question
    Does electronegativity have an affect on the oxidation state?
    Community Answer
    Yes. In normal cases, O has a oxidation number of -2. But in OF2 , F is more electronegative than O. So, in OF2, oxidation numbers of O and F are +2 and -1, respectively.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 25 Helpful 138
  • Question
    What is the relation between the oxidation number and valency in case of s-block metals?
    Community Answer
    Oxidation is the ionic number of an element, while valency is the number that shows the relationship of chemical properties of elements in the same group, so the oxidation number of an element is also the number of valence electrons.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 15 Helpful 62
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Reader Videos

      Tips

      • In a compound, the sum of all the oxidation numbers must equal 0. If there is an ion that has 2 atoms, for example, the sum of the oxidation numbers must equal the ionic charge.
        Thanks
        Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
      • Atoms in their elemental form always have an oxidation number of 0. A monatomic ion has an oxidation number equal to its charge. Group 1 metals in the elemental form, such as hydrogen, lithium and sodium, have an oxidation number of +1; group 2 metals in their elemental form, such as magnesium and calcium, have an oxidation number of +2. Both hydrogen and oxygen have a possibility of 2 different oxidation numbers depending on to what they are bonded.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
      • It is very helpful to know how to read a periodic table of elements and where the metals and nonmetals are located.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 3
      Show More Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • It is helpful to remember the order of electronegativity of the elements (more importantly group 16 and 17 ) as you will have to take electronegativity into consideration while calculating oxidation state.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Periodic table of elements
      • Access to the internet, chemistry textbooks or both
      • Paper, pen or pencil
      • Calculator

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Balance Chemical Equations
      How to
      Find Valence Electrons
      How to
      Find the Number of Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons
      How to
      Measure VO2 Max
      How to
      Electroplate Household Metals
      How to
      Make an Explosion
      Methanol vs. Ethanol: Molecular Structure, Properties & More
      How to
      Make a Small 3D Atom Model
      How to
      Read the Periodic Table
      How to
      Store Dry Ice
      How to
      Read a Galileo Thermometer
      How to
      Dispose of Dry Ice Safely
      How to
      Do Spectrophotometric Analysis
      How to
      Write Electron Configurations for Atoms of Any Element
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about chemistry, check out our in-depth interview with Anne Schmidt .

      References

      1. ↑ https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Analytical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry/Redox_Chemistry/Definitions_of_Oxidation_and_Reduction
      2. ↑ https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Grand_Rapids_Community_College/CHM_110%3A_Chemistry_of_the_Modern_World_(Neils)/10%3A_Electrochemistry/10.1_Redox_Reactions
      3. ↑ https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch2/oxnumb.html
      4. ↑ https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Analytical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry/Redox_Chemistry/Oxidation_States_(Oxidation_Numbers)
      5. ↑ https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch2/oxnumb.html
      6. ↑ https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch2/oxnumb.html
      7. ↑ https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Analytical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry/Redox_Chemistry/Oxidation_States_(Oxidation_Numbers)
      8. ↑ https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Chemistry_for_Allied_Health_(Soult)/11%3A_Properties_of_Reactions/11.01%3A_Oxidation_Numbers
      9. ↑ https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry/chemical-reactions-stoichiome/types-of-chemical-reactions/a/oxidation-number
      1. ↑ https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry/chemical-reactions-stoichiome/types-of-chemical-reactions/a/oxidation-number
      2. ↑ https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry/chemical-reactions-stoichiome/types-of-chemical-reactions/a/oxidation-number
      3. ↑ https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry/chemical-reactions-stoichiome/types-of-chemical-reactions/a/oxidation-number

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To find oxidation numbers, figure out if the substance in question is elemental or an ion. If it’s elemental, it has an oxidation number of 0. If it’s an ion, its oxidation number is the same as its charge. Be aware that metallic ions that can have more than one charge, like iron, can also have more than one oxidation number! In most cases assign an oxidation number of -2 to oxygen and +1 to hydrogen. In all cases give fluorine an oxidation number of -1. Finally, be sure the oxidation numbers in a compound are equal to the compound’s charge. For more information on finding oxidation numbers, including for atoms that don’t have oxidation number rules, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,278,550 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Tanmay Srivastava

        Jul 25, 2017

        "I have an chemistry exam in 7 hours. It's the middle of night and I know nothing regarding redox reactions. ..." more
        Rated this article:
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement