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What Are Valence Electrons?: Oxidation State

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outer energy level of an atom that can participate in interactions with other atoms. Elements combine to form molecules in order to attain a stable noble gas configuration like helium or neon, which have full outer electron shells. The oxidation state of an element in a compound is the charge that would exist if all bonds were ionic. It is calculated using rules such as metals in Group 1 having an oxidation state of +1, fluorine being -1, and the sum of oxidation states in polyatomic ions equaling the ion's overall charge.

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91 views3 pages

What Are Valence Electrons?: Oxidation State

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outer energy level of an atom that can participate in interactions with other atoms. Elements combine to form molecules in order to attain a stable noble gas configuration like helium or neon, which have full outer electron shells. The oxidation state of an element in a compound is the charge that would exist if all bonds were ionic. It is calculated using rules such as metals in Group 1 having an oxidation state of +1, fluorine being -1, and the sum of oxidation states in polyatomic ions equaling the ion's overall charge.

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exoisnine
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© © All Rights Reserved
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What are valence electrons?

- These are the electrons in the outer energy level of an atom that can participate in
interactions with other atoms. Valence electrons are generally the electrons that are
farthest from the nucleus. As a result, they may be attracted as much or more by the
nucleus of another atom than they are by their own nucleus.

Why do elements combine to form molecules?


- Noble Gas configuration is a stable configuration due to its inertness and hence most
of the elements try to attain this configuration.
Oxidation State
1. The oxidation number of an atom is zero in a neutral substance that contains atoms of
only one element.
Example K, Mg, Al, O2, P4, S8
2. The oxidation number of simple ions is equal to the charge on the ion.
Examples:
a. The oxidation number of sodium in the Na+ ion is +1
b. The oxidation number of chlorine in the Cl- ion is -1
3. Hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1 when combines with elements on the right side
of the periodic chart (non-metals) and a -1 when combined with elements on the left side of
the periodic chart (metals).
Examples: (Hydrogen combined with metals)
LiH, NaH, CaH2, and LiAlH4
Examples: (Hydrogen combined with nonmetals)
OH-, H2O, NH4+
Find the oxidation stated of Li in LiH
Solution:
x(1) + (-1)(1) = 0
+1(1) + (-1) = 0
+1 + (-1) = 0
0=0
Oxidation state: LiH : +1 H : -1
4. The oxidation state of fluorine is -1 in compounds.
5. The metals in Group IA form compounds in which the metal atom has an oxidation
number of +1.
Examples:
Li2N and Na2S
Find the oxidation state of N in Li2N
Solution:
+1(3) + x(1) = 0
3 + (-3)(1) = 0
3 + (-3) = 0
0=0
Oxidation state: Li3 : +1 N : -3
6. The elements in Group IIA form compounds in which the metal atom has an +2
oxidation number.
Examples:
Mg3N2 and CaCO3
Find the oxidation of N in Mg3N2
Solution:
+2(3) + x(2) = 0
+6 + (-3)(2) = 0
+6 + (-6) = 0
0=0
7. Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of -2. Exceptions include molecules and
polyatomic ions that contain O-O bonds, such as O2, O3, H2O2, and the O22- ion.
Examples:
IO3-, BrO2-
Find the oxidation state of I in IO3-
Solution:
x(1) + (-2)(3) = -1
x(1) + (-6) = -1
+5(1) + (-6)
5 + (-6) = -1
-1 = -1
Find O in H2O2
Solution:
+1(2) + x(2) = 0
+2 + (-1)(2) = 0
+2 + (-2) = 0
0=0
Things to remember!!
 The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero.
Example: H2O
(+1)(2) + (-2) = 0
 The sum of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion is equal to the charge on the
ion.
Example:
SO42-
(+6) + 4(-2) = -2
The oxidation number of the sulfur atom in the SO42- ion must be +2, for example,
because the sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms in this ion must equal -2.
(+6) + 4(-2) = -2

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