oxidáltságú

Oxidáltságú is a term used in chemistry to describe the state of an atom or ion in a compound. It is a number that represents the degree of oxidation of an atom. This number is assigned based on a set of rules that assume that covalent bonds are purely ionic. The oxidation state of an atom is not a physical charge, but rather a conceptual tool used to track electrons in chemical reactions.

In a neutral atom, the oxidation state is zero. When an atom gains electrons, its oxidation state becomes negative, and when it loses electrons, its oxidation state becomes positive. For example, in sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium (Na) has an oxidation state of +1 and chlorine (Cl) has an oxidation state of -1. This indicates that sodium has lost one electron and chlorine has gained one electron.

The sum of the oxidation states of all atoms in a neutral compound is zero. In a polyatomic ion, the sum of the oxidation states of all atoms equals the charge of the ion. For instance, in the sulfate ion (SO4^2-), oxygen has an oxidation state of -2. Since there are four oxygen atoms, their total contribution is -8. To achieve a net charge of -2, the sulfur atom must have an oxidation state of +6.

Oxidáltságú is crucial for understanding redox reactions, where oxidation and reduction occur. Oxidation is the loss of electrons, resulting in an increase in oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons, leading to a decrease in oxidation state. By tracking the changes in oxidation states, chemists can determine which species are oxidized and which are reduced.