How do I find oxidation numbers of certain elements in compounds? I'm really confused so very simple terms would be appreciated. EX: What is the oxidation number of sodium in NaOH???

To find the oxidation number of an element in a compound, you need to follow a set of rules. Here's a step-by-step process to determine the oxidation number of an element such as sodium (Na) in NaOH:

Step 1: Identify the compound and its formula. In this case, the compound is NaOH.

Step 2: Identify the oxidation number of the other elements in the compound that have a fixed oxidation number. In NaOH, oxygen (O) always has an oxidation number of -2.

Step 3: Determine the oxidation number for hydrogen (H), which is usually +1 in compounds.

Step 4: Use the formula of the compound to determine the overall charge. In NaOH, since oxygen has an oxidation number of -2 and hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1, the overall charge must be zero.

Step 5: Calculate the oxidation number of the remaining element (sodium, Na) by considering the overall charge. Since the overall charge of NaOH is zero, the sum of the oxidation numbers of all the elements in the compound should also be zero.

To find the oxidation number of sodium, you can use the following equation:

(+1) + (-2) + oxidation number of sodium = 0

Simplifying the equation:
+1 - 2 + oxidation number of sodium = 0

Finally, rearranging the equation to solve for the oxidation number of sodium:
oxidation number of sodium = 2 - 1 = +1

Therefore, the oxidation number of sodium (Na) in NaOH is +1.

By following these steps and considering the fixed oxidation numbers of certain elements, you can determine the oxidation numbers for different elements in compounds. It is important to note that there are some exceptions and special cases, but this step-by-step process will work in most cases.