What is the single oxidation number of C in C2H4O2?
a) +2
b) -2
c) +3
d) -3
e) -6
To find the oxidation number of carbon (C) in C2H4O2, we will assign oxidation numbers to all the other atoms in the compound and then use the information to solve for the oxidation number of carbon.
In the compound, hydrogen (H) will always have an oxidation number of +1.
Oxygen (O) will always have an oxidation number of -2.
Since there are 4 hydrogen atoms in the compound, the total oxidation number for hydrogen is +1 x 4 = +4.
Since there are 2 oxygen atoms in the compound, the total oxidation number for oxygen is -2 x 2 = -4.
The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is always zero. Therefore, the total oxidation number for carbon and hydrogen should be equal to the total oxidation number for oxygen.
Let the oxidation number for carbon be x.
The total oxidation number for carbon and hydrogen is 2x + 4(+1) = 2x + 4.
The total oxidation number for oxygen is 2(-2) = -4.
Setting the total oxidation numbers for carbon and hydrogen equal to the total oxidation number for oxygen, we have:
2x + 4 = -4
Simplifying the equation, we get:
2x = -8
Dividing both sides by 2, we find that:
x = -4/2 = -2
Therefore, the oxidation number of carbon (C) in C2H4O2 is -2.
The correct option is:
b) -2
recheck your answer!
Apologies for the mistake.
To find the oxidation number of carbon (C) in C2H4O2, we can first determine the oxidation numbers of hydrogen and oxygen, and then use that information to solve for the oxidation number of carbon.
In C2H4O2:
- Hydrogen (H) will always have an oxidation number of +1.
- Oxygen (O) will always have an oxidation number of -2.
Let the oxidation number for carbon be x.
Since there are 4 hydrogen atoms in the compound, the total oxidation number for hydrogen is +1 x 4 = +4.
Since there are 2 oxygen atoms in the compound, the total oxidation number for oxygen is -2 x 2 = -4.
The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is always zero. Therefore, the total oxidation number for carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen should add up to zero.
We can set up the equation:
2x + 4 - 4 = 0
Simplifying the equation, we have:
2x = 0
Dividing both sides by 2, we find that:
x = 0/2
x = 0
Therefore, the oxidation number of carbon (C) in C2H4O2 is zero.
The correct answer is:
x) 0
THE OPTIONS ARE:
a) +2
b) -2
c) +3
d) -3
e) -6
Apologies for the confusion.
To find the oxidation number of carbon (C) in C2H4O2, we can use the known oxidation numbers of other elements and the overall charge of the compound.
Since oxygen (O) has an oxidation number of -2, and there are two oxygen atoms in C2H4O2, the total oxidation number contribution from oxygen is -2 x 2 = -4.
The total oxidation number contribution from hydrogen (H) is +1 x 4 = +4.
The overall charge of C2H4O2 is 0 since it is a neutral compound.
Let the oxidation number of carbon be x.
The sum of oxidation numbers is equal to the overall charge of the compound:
x + (-4) + (+4) = 0
Simplifying the equation, we have:
x = 0
Therefore, the oxidation number of carbon (C) in C2H4O2 is 0.
The correct option is:
x) 0
To determine the oxidation number of an element in a compound, we need to follow a few rules:
1. The oxidation number of an element in its elemental state is always zero. Therefore, the carbon atoms in this compound will have an oxidation number of zero.
2. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero.
3. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion is equal to the charge of the ion.
Now, let's apply these rules to determine the oxidation number of carbon (C) in C2H4O2.
Since the oxidation number of each carbon atom is zero, we have a total of 2 * 0 = 0 for the carbon atoms.
Next, we consider the hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms. Hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1 in most compounds. Oxygen has an oxidation number of -2 in most compounds, except in peroxides where it is -1.
In C2H4O2, there are 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms. The total oxidation number contributed by hydrogen is 4 * +1 = +4. The total oxidation number contributed by oxygen is 2 * -2 = -4.
To find the oxidation number of carbon, we can use the fact that the sum of oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero. We have the equation: 0 + 4 - 4 = 0.
Simplifying, we find that the oxidation number of carbon is 0.
Therefore, the answer is none of the given options (a) +2, (b) -2, (c) +3, (d) -3, or (e) -6. The correct answer is that the single oxidation number of carbon in C2H4O2 is 0.