As a pure element the oxidation number of zinc is ________,but in compounds such as ZnCO₃ its oxidation number is ________. A)0;0 B)0;+1 C)+1;0 D)0;+2 E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As a pure element, the oxidation number of zinc is 0 (since it does not share electrons with any other atom). However, in the compound ZnCO₃, the oxidation number of zinc can be calculated as follows: Zn + C + O + S = 0 The total charge of the compound must be zero, and since the oxidation number of oxygen (-2) and sulfur (-2) are known, we can solve for the oxidation number of zinc: Zn + (1 x -1) + (3 x -2) + (1 x -2) = 0 Zn - 1 - 6 - 2 = 0 Zn = +9 Therefore, the oxidation number of zinc in this compound is +2 (not +1 as option B suggests). The correct answer is D.

As a Pure Element the Oxidation Number of Zinc Is