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The oxidation state, or oxidation number, is a hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all its bonds to different atoms were 100% ionic. It provides a way to track electron transfer in redox reactions. An increase in oxidation state signifies oxidation, while a decrease signifies reduction. This formalism simplifies the analysis of complex chemical reactions.
The oxidation state is a formal tool, not a representation of the actual charge on an atom, especially in covalent compounds where electrons are shared, not fully transferred. A set of rules is used to assign oxidation states. For example, the oxidation state of an atom in its elemental form is 0. For a monatomic ion, it equals the ion’s charge. In compounds, fluorine is always -1, and oxygen is usually -2 (except in peroxides). The sum of oxidation states in a neutral compound is zero, while in a polyatomic ion, it equals the ion’s charge.
Consider potassium permanganate, [latex]KMnO_4[/latex]. We know K is +1 and each O is -2. For the compound to be neutral, the sum of oxidation states must be zero. Let the oxidation state of Mn be x. Then, [latex](+1) + x + 4(-2) = 0[/latex]. Solving this gives [latex]x = +7[/latex]. So, the oxidation state of manganese in permanganate is +7. If this ion participates in a reaction where it is converted to [latex]Mn^{2+}[/latex], the oxidation state of manganese has decreased from +7 to +2, signifying a reduction. This bookkeeping method is indispensable for identifying which species are oxidized and reduced and for balancing the complex equations that describe these reactions.
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