Question

What if the oxidation state for oxygen was defined as -1 instead of -2? What effect, if any, would it have on the oxidation state of hydrogen?

Short answer

If the oxidation state for oxygen was defined as -1 instead of -2, may cause

fractional oxidation states for many atoms.Theoxidation state of hydrogen should be given$+\frac{1}{2}$for 1 electron.

Step-by-step solution

Definition

The oxidation state of an atom in a covalent molecule is the imaginary charge given to it. Except in peroxides, the oxidation state of oxygen is -2 in most substances. In most of its covalent compounds, hydrogen's oxidation state is +1. The oxidation states of atoms are determined by the other atoms that are bonded to them.

Determination of oxidation state of hydrogen

If the oxidation state of oxygen that can taketwo electrons is -1 instead of -2, theoxidation state of hydrogen that can donate one electron should be $+\frac{1}{2}$. All atoms that take one electron should obtain $-\frac{1}{2}$etc. in this way. For several of the atoms,fractional oxidation states are also feasible.
The oxidation state of the atoms, on the other hand, is determined by the other molecules connected to it. As a result,the oxidation number of an atom varies from compound to compound.