What is the oxidation state of C in K_2CO_3K2CO3?

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 10, 2016

Carbon clearly has an oxidation state of +IV+IV in carbonate dianion.

Explanation:

The sum of the oxidation numbers always gives the charge on the ion. Carbonate anion is CO_3^(2-)CO2−3. Now oxygen generally has an oxidation number of -2−2, and it does here.

Thus -2=C^"ON"-2-2-2−2=CON−2−2−2

So, clearly C^"ON"=+IVCON=+IV.

What is the oxidation number of carbon in oxalate dianion, ""^(-)O_2C-CO_2^-−O2C−CO−2?

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