L1 /
5
CH1012
OXIDATION STATE
RULES II
(ii) The oxidation number of a free
element ie. no atoms of a different element, has an oxidation number of zero (e.g. O2, P4, S8).
(iii) For polar covalent
molecules or ions,
we assign to the more electronegative
atom of a bond the total possession of the
electron pairs in the bond.
we assign to the more electronegative
atom of a bond the total possession of the
electron pairs in the bond.
H - F
2.1 4.0
Electronegativity is a
number that describes
the relative ability of an atom in a covalent
bond to attract shared electrons.
the relative ability of an atom in a covalent
bond to attract shared electrons.
