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In chemistry, various chemical processes and reactions occur, out of which oxidation is one of the essential reactions and processes. Rusting that occurs and which we see around us on metallic substances is an outcome of the oxidation reaction.
In chemistry, every element is a pure material made up of atoms with a specific amount of protons in their nucleus. Chemical elements, unlike chemical compounds, cannot be broken down into different substances by any chemical process.
What do you mean by the term ‘Oxidation’?
Suppose oxidation occurs when the oxidation of chemical elements increases or when the oxidation number of a molecule, atom, or ion increases; this is called oxidation. Oxidation’s inverse process is called reduction, and the process of reduction happens when electrons are gained when the oxidation number of an atom, molecule, or ion becomes less.
The term ‘Oxidation’ is a Chemical process in which the addition of oxygen, loss of an electron, removal of hydrogen, or an increase in the oxidation number takes place.
In simple words, the chemical process of oxidation takes place when an ion, an atom or a molecule loses one or more than one of its electrons in a chemical reaction.
Oxidation Number
In simple words, the oxidation number is the charge of atoms that they would have in a chemical molecule if the electrons are transformed as a whole.
The charge on the top right side of an atom in a given compound or a chemical ion is called the oxidation level or the number of an element.
Using the concept of oxidation number, a student can determine if a given reaction undergoes reduction or not.
Examples of Oxidation
2Mg + O2 → 2MgO
4Fe + 3O2 → 2Fe2O3
Na – 1e- → Na+
2Cu + O2 → 2CuO
Oxidation Number Calculation Rules
Rule 1- The state of oxidation or the number of oxidation of all the elements in chemistry in a free state is considered zero.
For Example-
Br20, Na0, H20, P0, etc.
Rule 2- In a given chemical compound, the more electronegative elements are in negative oxidation states, the less electronegative elements are assigned the positive oxidation states.
Rule 3– In a neutral body, the addition result of oxidation is zero.
Rule 4- The oxidation number of oxygen in any chemical compound is two (-2).
Rule 5- The oxidation number of hydrogen on the combination of hydrogen and non-metal is positive (+1).
When hydrogen is combined with a chemical metal of a lesser electronegativity, then the oxidation state for that element is said to be a negative one (-1).
Rule 6- The oxidation state of the Fluorine Atom is -1 all the time because fluorine is the most electronegative element and cannot form more than one bond. Also, the binary compounds of various other halogens are considered as -1.
Rule 7- The elements of Group l, II and III of the chemical periodic table in chemistry tells the students about the oxidation number of 1+, 2+, 3+ respectively in various chemical compounds.
Oxidation Number Calculation Examples-
Few Uses of Oxidation Number
Oxidation state is a strategy for accounting for electrons. The basic rule used for finding an oxidation state is the result of measuring the mass of an element. Since electrons can’t be made or annihilated, appropriate bookkeeping of where electrons go is fundamental to getting compound responses.
To find an oxidation state, we envision that every electron is on precisely one particle – no electron sharing. The oxidation state accepts that all holding is ionic.
Suppose we rule out oxidation states when a response, we can comprehend where the electrons streamed during the response. Electrons are the place where all the activity is in substance responses.
Oxidation states are very needed in the field of electrochemistry.
Advantages of Oxidation Number
Oxidation numbers can help us decide whether or not redox is involved in a particular process.
Oxidation numbers show that neutralisation and precipitation are not redox reactions, even involving ions. This point tells us about the importance of oxidation numbers as an electron bookkeeping device that allows us to recognise the redox process.
The second advantage in using oxidation numbers is that they allow us to see exactly which part of a molecule or a complexion is reduced or oxidised.
Conclusion
Whenever any chemical element is getting combined with oxygen, the term “oxidation” is used to show and determine the required result. For Example, Metallic oxidation is a compound that results from metals and oxygen to give us a result called metallic oxides. In simple words, the oxidation number is the number related to the parts in a chemical combination.
The oxidation number of an element can be d by summarising the consistent oxidation state of oxidation. The mean oxidation number should be equivalent to the complete oxidation number decided.
The oxidation state plays an extremely important role in the field of chemistry. All the basic organic calculations and even analytical chemistry are done with the help of Oxidation Numbers.
