Q15.6P
Question
What is the range of oxidation states for carbon? Name a compound in which carbon has its highest oxidation state and one in which it has its lowest.
Step-by-Step Solution
Verified Answer
The answer is,
The range of oxidation state is -4 to +4.
Methane (-4) and Carbon dioxide (+4).
1Step 1: Oxidation state
The oxidation state is the number of charges present on the atom in a compound. It is a hypothetical concept to assign charges to atoms in a compound only if all the bonds in the atom are completely ionic. It gives the knowledge of the degree of oxidation of that atom in the particular compound.
2Step 2: Explanation
Carbon is a tetravalent compound with varying oxidation states from -4 to +4. Methane is a compound with a carbon oxidation state of -4, and carbon dioxide has a carbon oxidation state of +4.
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