Question

How do you determine oxidation numbers then, determine the reducing agent and the element reduced? How do you determine which has gained or lost electrons?

Answer 1

There has 12 steps to find oxidation state of a substance.

1. Determine whether the substance in question is elemental.

2.Determine whether the substance in question is an ion.

3.For metallic ions, know that multiple oxidation numbers are possible.

4.Assign an oxidation number of -2 to oxygen (with exceptions).

5.Assign an oxidation number of +1 to hydrogen (with exceptions).

6.Fluorine always has an oxidation number of -1.

7.Set the oxidation numbers in a compound equal to a compound's charge.

8.Find atoms without oxidation number rules.

9.Find the known oxidation number for the other elements in the compound.

10.Multiply the number of each atom by its oxidation number.

11.Add the results together.

12.Calculate the unknown oxidation number based on the compound's charge.

A reducing agent reduces other substances and loses electrons; therefore, its oxidation state increases and for that there should be a reducing element.finally it becomes the reduced elemnt.

Which increases it's oxidation state - substance that lost electrons.

Which decreases it's oxidation state -substance that gained electrons.