CHEM131 CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS WORKSHEET – ASSIGNING OXIDATION NUMBERS

Oxidation Number Rules:

1. The oxidation number of any pure element is 0.
2. The oxidation of a monoatomic ion equals that charge on the ion.
3. The oxidation number of fluorine in a compound is always -1.
4. Oxygen has an oxidation number of -2 unless it is combined with F, in which it is +1 or +2, or it is in peroxide in
which it is -1.
5. Hydrogen is +1, unless combined with a metal, and then it is -1.
6. In compounds, Group I is +1, Group II is +2 and aluminum is +3.
7. The sum of oxidation numbers of all atoms in a neutral compound is 0.
8. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion equals the charge of the ion.

A. Give the oxidation number of the indicated ion/atom.

1. N in N2O3 11. Cl in Fe(ClO2)3 21. O2
2. S in H2SO4 12. Fe in Fe(ClO2)3 22. P4
-
3. C 13. N in NO3 23. Na in Na2S
2+
4. C in CO 14. Cu 24. S in H2S
5. Na in Na2CO3 15. Zn2+ 25. Ca2+
6. H in H2O 16. C in CH4 26. C in CN-
7. Ba in BaCl2 17. Mn in MnO2 27. H in OH-
- 2-
8. N in NO2 18. S in SO3 28. Mn in KMnO4
2+
9. S in Al2S3 19. Mg 29. I in Mg(IO3)2
- -
10. S in HSO4 20. Cl 30. C in C2O42-
B. Identify the species being oxidized and reduced in each of the following reactions and write their half reactions:
1. 2Cr2+ + Sn4+ → 2Cr3+ + Sn2+
Oxidation: Reduction:

2. 3Hg2+ + 2Fe(s) → 3Hg2 + 2Fe3+

Oxidation: Reduction:

3. 2As(s) + 3Cl2(g) → 2AsCl3

Oxidation: Reduction:

4. Zn + Cu2+ → Zn2+ + Cu
Oxidation: Reduction:

5. C + H2SO4 → CO2 + SO2 + H2O

Oxidation: Reduction:

6. HNO3 + HI → NO + I2 + H2O
Oxidation: Reduction:

7. KMnO4 + HCl → MnCl2 + Cl2 + H2O KCl

Oxidation: Reduction:

8. Sb + HNO3 → Sb2O3 + NO + H2O

Oxidation: Reduction: