What is the oxidation state of sulfur in the sulfate ion ()?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. +6
- Step 1: Oxygen typically has an oxidation number of . There are four oxygen atoms: .
- Step 2: The sum of oxidation states must equal the net charge of the polyatomic ion (): .
Answer
+6.
Why not the others: '+4' is the oxidation state of sulfur in sulfite (); '+2' is an arithmetic error; '-2' is the oxidation state of sulfur in sulfide ().
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