Oxidation Number Calculator

The oxidation number calculator helps determine the oxidation state of a specific element in a given chemical compound. Understanding oxidation numbers is crucial in chemical reactions, especially redox reactions, where electron transfer is involved.

Oxidation Number Basics

Oxidation numbers represent the hypothetical charge an atom would have if all bonds were ionic. Common rules include:

• Oxygen typically has an oxidation number of -2.
• Hydrogen is usually +1 when bonded to nonmetals and -1 when bonded to metals.
• Group 1 metals (like Na, K) are +1; Group 2 metals (like Ca, Mg) are +2.

Example Calculation

For CO2, carbon’s oxidation number is +4, as oxygen is -2 and there are two oxygens. The sum must equal 0 for a neutral molecule.