Oxidation Number Calculator

Calculate Oxidation States in Chemical Species

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Element Oxidation States Lookup

Find common oxidation states for elements.

Common Oxidation States: -

Compound Oxidation Number Calculator

Calculate oxidation numbers in compounds using charge balance.

Oxidation Numbers: -

Ion Oxidation Number Calculator

Calculate oxidation numbers in complex ions.

Oxidation Numbers: -

Oxidation Number Change Calculator

Calculate change in oxidation number during reactions.

Change in Oxidation Number: -
Process Type: -

Understanding Oxidation Numbers

What are Oxidation Numbers?

Fundamental concepts of oxidation states:

  • Formal charge concept
  • Electron accounting
  • Oxidation state rules
  • Charge balance
  • Element electronegativity

Basic Rules

Key rules for assigning oxidation numbers:

  • Free elements = 0
  • Group 1 metals = +1
  • Group 2 metals = +2
  • Hydrogen = +1 (usually)
  • Oxygen = -2 (usually)
  • Halogens = -1 (usually)

Applications

Uses in chemistry:

  • Redox reactions
  • Electron transfer
  • Balancing equations
  • Electrochemistry
  • Corrosion studies
  • Catalysis

Special Cases

Exceptions and special situations:

  • Peroxides
  • Superoxides
  • Metal clusters
  • Mixed valence
  • Zero-valent compounds

Advanced Concepts

Complex aspects:

  • Fractional oxidation states
  • Resonance structures
  • Delocalized electrons
  • Non-integer states
  • Multiple oxidation states

Essential Oxidation Number Rules

Basic Rules

  • Free elements = 0
  • Monatomic ions = charge on ion
  • Sum of oxidation numbers = overall charge

Common Values

  • Group 1 metals = +1
  • Group 2 metals = +2
  • Hydrogen = +1 (except metal hydrides = -1)
  • Oxygen = -2 (except peroxides = -1)
  • Halogens = -1 (in binary compounds)

Change Calculation

ΔOx = Final oxidation number - Initial oxidation number