Determine the oxidation state for the SECOND element in each of the following:
NaF _____
Could you give me the steps to determine the answer
The sum of the oxidation states is zero.
Na is +1, so F must be -1
so what wouldit be for Mg3P2? if it has a subscript?
Mg is +2, so three of them make a +6.
This has to be offset by 2P ions, so each P is -3
To determine the oxidation state of the second element in NaF, you need to understand the concept of oxidation states or oxidation numbers. Here are the steps to determine the oxidation state:
1. Identify the first element: In this case, the first element is sodium (Na).
2. Determine the oxidation state of the first element: Sodium belongs to Group 1, and elements in Group 1 usually have an oxidation state of +1.
3. Identify the second element: In this case, the second element is fluorine (F).
4. Use the rule that the sum of the oxidation states in a compound is zero: Since NaF is a neutral compound, the sum of the oxidation states of sodium and fluorine must equal zero.
5. Set up an equation: Let x be the oxidation state of fluorine. The equation would be +1 (oxidation state of sodium) + x (oxidation state of fluorine) = 0.
6. Solve for x: Solving the equation, we get x = -1.
So, the oxidation state for the second element, fluorine (F), in NaF is -1.