Question

Determine the oxidation number of the boldface element in these compounds. a. \(\mathrm{HNO}_{3}\) c. b\(_{2}\) O\(_{5}\) b. CaN_\({2}\) d. CuWO\(_{4}\)

Short answer

The oxidation numbers of the boldface elements in the given compounds are: a. Nitrogen (N) in HNO₃: +5 b. Nitrogen (N) in CaN₂: -1 c. Boron (B) in B₂O₅: +5 d. Tungsten (W) in CuWO₄: +6

Step-by-step solution

Determine the oxidation number of boldface element in HNO₃

The compound HNO₃ contains hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) atoms. Using rules 4, 6, and 7, we have: Oxidation number of hydrogen (H) = +1 Oxidation number of oxygen (O) = -2 Since the compound is neutral (rule 3), the sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms must be 0. Therefore, we have: \(+1 + x + 3(-2) = 0\) Now, we solve for x, the oxidation number for nitrogen (N): \(x - 6 + 1 = 0\) \(x = 5\) So, the oxidation number of nitrogen (N) in HNO₃ is +5.

Determine the oxidation number of boldface element in CaN₂

The compound CaN₂ contains calcium (Ca) and nitrogen (N) atoms. For metals in their compounds (rule 5), the oxidation number of calcium (Ca) is +2. Since the compound is neutral, the sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms must be 0 (rule 3). Therefore, we have: \(+2 + 2x = 0\) Now, we solve for x, the oxidation number for nitrogen (N): \(2x = -2\) \(x = -1\) So, the oxidation number of nitrogen (N) in CaN₂ is -1.

Determine the oxidation number of boldface element in b₂O₅

The compound b₂O₅ requires clarification. The element symbol for "b" is not recognized. If it's meant to be boron (B), the correct notation would be B₂O₅. Assuming it is B₂O₅, we can proceed. The compound B₂O₅ contains boron (B) and oxygen (O) atoms. Using rule 7, the oxidation number of oxygen (O) is -2. The sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms in a neutral compound must be 0 (rule 3). Therefore, we have: \(2x + 5(-2) = 0\) Now, we solve for x, the oxidation number for boron (B): \(2x - 10 = 0\) \(x = 5\) So, the oxidation number of boron (B) in B₂O₅ is +5.

Determine the oxidation number of boldface element in CuWO₄

The compound CuWO₄ contains copper (Cu), tungsten (W), and oxygen (O) atoms. Using rules 5 and 7, we have: Oxidation number of copper (Cu) = +2 Oxidation number of oxygen (O) = -2 Since the compound is neutral, the sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms must be 0 (rule 3). Therefore, we have: \(+2 + x + 4(-2) = 0\) Now, we solve for x, the oxidation number of tungsten (W): \(x - 8 + 2 = 0\) \(x = 6\) So, the oxidation number of tungsten (W) in CuWO₄ is +6.

Key concepts

Redox Chemistry

Redox chemistry is the branch of chemistry that studies oxidation-reduction reactions, commonly known as redox reactions. These processes involve the transfer of electrons between atoms or molecules. An essential characteristic of redox reactions is the change in the oxidation numbers of the elements involved.
In these reactions, one species will lose electrons and become oxidized, while another will gain electrons and become reduced. For example, when iron rusts, it is being oxidized to iron oxide, and oxygen is reduced in the process. It's vital to understand redox chemistry as it plays a key role in numerous biological processes, industry applications, and everyday life, such as in batteries and the metabolism in our bodies.
To fully grasp redox chemistry, students should familiarize themselves with the concept of oxidation numbers and how they can be used to predict which substances in a chemical reaction are oxidized or reduced. This understanding will allow for better comprehension of energy transfer during chemical reactions and the broader applications of redox chemistry in various scientific fields.

Chemical Compounds

Chemical compounds are substances formed from two or more different types of elements, which are bonded together in specific ratios and structures. Compounds are characterized by their unique chemical and physical properties, which differ from those of their constituent elements. For example, water, with the formula H₂O, has very different properties from its elements, hydrogen and oxygen gases.
Understanding chemical compounds requires basic knowledge of atomic structure and chemical bonds – ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds. Chemical formulas, like those seen in the exercise (HNO₃, CaN₂, B₂O₅, and CuWO₄), provide insights into the ratios of elements present in a compound and can serve as a guide to deduce the oxidation numbers of the constituent elements. This is imperative when solving problems related to redox reactions, where precise identification of oxidation states forms the foundation for determining how electrons are transferred during the reaction.

Oxidation State Rules

Oxidation state rules are guidelines used to assign oxidation numbers to atoms within molecules and ions. The oxidation number for an atom is a hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all bonds were purely ionic. Understanding these rules is crucial to solve redox chemistry problems efficiently.
Some basic rules to remember include:

• The oxidation number of an element in its elemental form is always zero.
• The sum of oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero, and in a polyatomic ion, it is equal to the charge of the ion.
• For many simple ions, the oxidation number equals the charge (e.g., Na⁺ has an oxidation number of +1).
• Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of -2, except in peroxides.
• Hydrogen typically has an oxidation number of +1 when bonded to nonmetals and -1 when bonded to metals.

Applying these rules allows us to calculate unknown oxidation states in compounds, as seen in the provided exercise. For instance, knowing that oxygen has an oxidation number of -2 helps us quickly determine that a nitrogen atom in HNO₃ would have an oxidation number of +5. Such calculations are often the first steps in analyzing redox reactions in chemistry.