Assigning oxidation numbers (also called oxidation states) is a fundamental concept for balancing chemical equations and understanding redox reactions. The rules for determining oxidation states are hierarchical:
- The oxidation number of atoms in their elemental form is zero.
- For monoatomic ions, the oxidation number is equal to the charge on the ion.
- Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of -2, except in peroxides or when bonded to fluorine.
- Hydrogen is usually +1 except when bonded to metals in metal hydrides where it is -1.
- The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero, and in a polyatomic ion, it equals the charge of the ion.
By applying these rules, you systematically determine the oxidation states of elements in a compound. For example, in \textbf{KClO}\(_3\), potassium (K) holds a +1 charge, and oxygen (O) typically has an oxidation number of -2. There are three oxygen atoms, contributing a total of -6. To balance the -6 charge with potassium's +1, chlorine (Cl) must have an oxidation number of +5.