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Predict the oxidation number of the following elements:
Li ___
B ___
K ___
O ___

Question

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Predict the oxidation number of the following elements:
Li ___
B ___
K ___
O ___

anonymous · Answer

The oxidation # of a free element is always 0, are these ions?

cuanchi · Answer

Li ___+1
B ___+3
K ___+1
O ___-2, -1

genny7 · Answer

thanks @Cuanchi

rishavraj · Answer

there are few basic rules or u can say concepts if u wanna find the oxidation no a an element in compound...

cuanchi · Answer

@snackerman yes you are wright, maybe I misunderstood the question. If that are atoms in it elemental form (they looks like) the oxidation state will be zero. They don't looks like ions, they don't have charge. In the case of Li, B, and K it is confusing if they are refering to the elemental form or to the possible oxidation states that the element can have. Anyway I should also has written 0 for all of them. In the case of the O, it is a diatomic element and the elemental form will be O2 with and oxidation state of 0.