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Ch.4 - Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions
Chapter 4, Problem 96

What is the oxidation state of Cl in each ion? a. ClO- b. ClO2- c. ClO3- d. ClO4-

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Oxidation State

The oxidation state, or oxidation number, is a measure of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a chemical compound. It indicates the number of electrons that an atom can gain, lose, or share when forming chemical bonds. Oxidation states are assigned based on a set of rules, including the assumption that compounds are neutral and that certain elements have fixed oxidation states.
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Rules for Assigning Oxidation States

There are specific rules for determining oxidation states, such as the fact that the oxidation state of an element in its elemental form is zero, and the oxidation state of oxygen is typically -2. In polyatomic ions, the sum of the oxidation states must equal the overall charge of the ion. These rules help in systematically determining the oxidation states of elements in various compounds.
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Chlorine Compounds and Oxidation States

Chlorine can exhibit multiple oxidation states, ranging from -1 to +7, depending on the compound it forms. In oxyanions like ClO-, ClO2-, ClO3-, and ClO4-, chlorine's oxidation state increases with the number of oxygen atoms bonded to it. Understanding the relationship between chlorine's oxidation state and the number of oxygen atoms is crucial for determining the oxidation state in these specific ions.
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