Question

What is the oxidation number of Chlorine in NaClO4?

-1
+7
-5
+1

Answer 1

@Zarkon

Answer 2

@dan815

Answer 3

@TheSmartOne

Answer 4

@quickstudent

Answer 5

Do you know how to do this?

Answer 6

To help you out, the total charge of the compound is 0. You can tell this because it doesn't have a superscripted charge (negative or positive at the end on the top).

First, assign the oxidation number for sodium. It will always be +1 because of it's placement on the periodic table.

Next, assign your oxidation number for oxygen. Oxygen's oxidation number can vary depending upon the situation it is in (follow your oxidation number assigning rules if you have them). In this case, it will be -2. However, there are four of them (you know this because of the subscript 4 at the bottom of the O). So, -2x4= -8.

When you add the sodium +1 to the oxygen -8, your overall charge comes out to be -7.
You need it to be zero.

What would the oxidation number of chlorine be if you need your overall charge to equal zero?

-Hope that helped. Sounds like you need to utilize the rules for assigning oxidation numbers. They should be in a book or your teacher/professor should supply them. Good luck!