L07 Chem 151 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Oxidation State, Electron Configuration, Electronegativity
18 Oct 2015
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Document Summary
Oxidation state: the oxidation number is a book-keeping device for the numbers of electrons gained or lost in an atom when it bonds with other atoms to form a molecule/polyatomic ion. The possible oxidation numbers of an atom can be derived from its ground state electron configuration. The same element can have different oxidation numbers in different compounds. This is because the oxidation number of an atom depends on the other atoms in the molecule. Assigning oxidation numbers (on): the on of the more electronegative atom in a molecule is negative and the on of the less electronegative atom is positive. Ex: hcl, nah: the on of the atoms in free elements is zero. Only group 1 elements can form peroxides and superoxides. Electron transfer has occurred if on has changed. An electron lost by the reducing agent must be balanced by an electron gained by the oxidizing agent.
