What is the oxidation number of $H_{2} O$ $"H"_2"O"$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2018-08-13T16:44:45

Well, oxidation number is an atomic property, i.e. a property of the atoms within a molecule....

And since water is a neutral molecule, the SUM of the oxidation numbers of hydrogen, and oxygen WITHIN THE MOLECULE must be ZERO....

And thus within water...

$H_{oxidation number} = + I$ $H_"oxidation number"=+I$ ...

$O_{oxidation number} = - I I$ $O_"oxidation number"=-II$ ...

And $2 \times H_{oxidation number} + O_{oxidation number} = 0$ $2xxH_"oxidation number"+O_"oxidation number"=0$ ...as required...

Of course, as the ELEMENTS, NEITHER oxygen nor hydrogen are conceived to have been reduced or oxidized...and their oxidation numbers are ZERO....

What is the oxidation number of H2O"H"_2"O" ?