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Chemistry 7 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

oxidation numbers ClO2-

OpenStudy (joemc):

You can see that the polyatomic ion has a charge of -1. So, the charges must add up to -1. First, what is the 'usual' oxidation state of oxygen? Once you have that, since you have two of them, multiply it by 2. (I will tell you that that will be a negative number.) Once you know that number, what value must you add to it to add up to a total charge of -1? That will be the oxidation number of the Cl. So, based on this, what do you believe the oxidation state of (each) oxygen, and of the chorine is?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

to simply answer your question its -3. :)

OpenStudy (joemc):

Are you sure about that be? If the oxidation number of the Cl was -3, the polyatomic ion would have a charge of -7, not -1.

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