Question

What is the oxidation state of S in HSO42-?

A. +9
B. +7
C. +5
D. +6

Answer 1

+5 right?

Answer 2

or is it 6.

Answer 3

i know its either 5 or 6

Answer 4

the charge of \(HSO_4\) isn't -2, it should be -1. Unless you mean just the \(SO_4\) ion, which is a -2.

Answer 5

there's a screenshot above

Answer 6

well that's just wrong, but based on that info, there's really a simple way to find the oxidation of one of the atoms in an ion

Answer 7

The charges of all the pieces of the ion have to add up to the total charge on the ion, and there are lots of atoms that form common "always" ions

Answer 8

as a cation, H is always a +1

as an anion, oxygen is "99%" a -2 (unless it's in a peroxide, which this isn't, so it's still a -2)

Answer 9

So now we just set up a simple algebraic statement

Answer 10

\[(+1) + (sulfur) + 4(-2) = -2\]

Answer 11

one hydrogen, (+1), plus the sulfur, whatever it is, plus 4 oxygens (4x(-2)) must equal the -2 charge on the ion

Answer 12

so 6

Answer 13

5

Answer 14

yea its 5

Answer 15

it is 5. more specifically +5

Answer 16

yep okay thanks

Answer 17

when dealing with charges, lots of times we explicitly write the positive sign, +5, just to be sure

Answer 18

yea i noticed. thanks again

Answer 19

wherever you got the question from, it's wrong though.

Answer 20

my chem teacher

Answer 21

well politely (very politely) inform them to check their charges