Finding Oxidation Number - Organic Chemistry

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Question

Compared to oxygen in water, the oxygen in hydrogen peroxide has                      valence electron(s).

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Answer

To solve this question we need to calculate the oxidation number of oxygen in both molecules. The formula for water is . The oxidation number of hydrogen is +1. Since there are two of them, the hydrogen atoms contribute to a charge of +2. The water molecule is neutral; therefore, the oxygen must have an oxidation number of to balance the charge. The formula for hydrogen peroxide is . Using the same logic as water, we can determine that hydrogen contributes +2. We have two oxygen atoms in this case; therefore, each oxygen atom will have an oxidation number of to give a charge of . This will balance the charges and provide a neutral hydrogen peroxide molecule.

Recall that have a negative charge suggests that an atom has extra valence electrons. A charge of suggests one extra valence electron and a charge of suggests two extra valence electrons. An oxygen typically has six valence electrons. The oxygen in water has oxidation number; therefore, it will have two extra valence electrons (eight total). On the other hand, oxygen in hydrogen peroxide will have one extra valence electron (seven total); therefore, oxygen in hydrogen peroxide has one less valence electron than oxygen in water.

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