oxidationsmått

Oxidationsmått, often translated as oxidation state or oxidation number, is a hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all bonds to atoms of different elements were 100% ionic. It is a bookkeeping tool used to track the transfer of electrons in chemical reactions, particularly in redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions. The oxidation state of an atom in a compound or ion is a number, which can be positive, negative, or zero.

There are a set of rules to determine oxidation states. For example, the oxidation state of an atom in its elemental form is zero. In compounds, alkali metals (Group 1) always have an oxidation state of +1, and alkaline earth metals (Group 2) always have an oxidation state of +2. Fluorine usually has an oxidation state of -1. Oxygen typically has an oxidation state of -2, except in peroxides where it is -1, and when bonded to fluorine where it is positive. Hydrogen usually has an oxidation state of +1 when bonded to nonmetals and -1 when bonded to metals. The sum of the oxidation states of all atoms in a neutral molecule must equal zero, and in a polyatomic ion, it must equal the charge of the ion.

Oxidation involves an increase in oxidation state, meaning an atom loses electrons. Reduction involves a decrease in oxidation state, meaning an atom gains electrons. Oxidationsmått is crucial for understanding reaction mechanisms, balancing redox equations, and predicting the reactivity of substances. It does not represent the actual charge distribution in covalent compounds but rather a formal assignment for analytical purposes in chemistry.

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