Oxidation Number (Noun)
Meaning
The degree of oxidation of an atom or ion or molecule; for simple atoms or ions the oxidation number is equal to the ionic charge; "the oxidation number of hydrogen is +1 and of oxygen is -2".
Classification
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure.
Examples
- The oxidation number of an atom is a measure of its degree of oxidation, which is the number of electrons it has gained or lost.
- In chemistry, the oxidation number of an element is a key concept in understanding redox reactions and the formation of ions.
- The oxidation number of a molecule is determined by the oxidation numbers of its constituent atoms, which must add up to the overall charge of the molecule.
- The oxidation number of a transition metal can vary depending on the compound it is in, making it a useful tool for identifying the metal's role in the compound.
- By assigning an oxidation number to each atom in a molecule, chemists can keep track of the transfer of electrons during a reaction and determine the products that will form.