What is the oxidation number of S in HSO?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. +6
- Step 1: The oxidation numbers in a neutral compound add up to zero (H is +1, O is , K is +1, Na is +1, Cl in a metal chloride is ).
- Step 2: Solving for S gives +6.
Answer
+6.
Why not the others: +7: the total of the oxidation numbers in the formula does not come to zero. +5: the other atoms' oxidation numbers are not balanced correctly. -6: the charges of the other elements are miscounted.
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