Question

What is the oxidation number for each atom in NH4Cl?


N = +3, H = +1, Cl = –1
N = –3, H = –1, Cl = +1
N = +3, H = –4, Cl = +1
N = –3, H = +1, Cl = –1

Answer 1

Try asking in the chemistry section next time but I will help you out.

\[\Large NH_4Cl = NH _{4}^{+} + Cl^{-}\]

and as such you can look at the oxidation like that.

Generally, Hydrogen has a +1 oxidation state unless you have it in metal hydride (so like CaH2, where Ca is the metal). This is not the case as Nitrogen (N) is not a metal and so EACH Hydrogen is

H = +1

but there are 4 of them so they contribute +4 overall to the ion. The oxidation numbers have to total the charge of the ion in the end so solving for the oxidation number of N gets you:

\[\Large 4(+1) + N = +1\]

\[\Large 4(+1) + N \color{red}{-4(+1)}= +1\color{red}{-4(+1)}\]

N= -3

Answer 2

And the charge on the chlorine atom is the oxidation number so

Cl = -1

@LuhVee1 do you follow?

Answer 3

rite on