The oxidation state of silicon in SiO₂ is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Each of the two oxygen atoms has an oxidation state of -2, and each of the two sulfur atoms also has an oxidation state of -2. Therefore, the sum of the oxidation states of these four atoms is -8. Since the overall charge of the compound is 0, the sum of the oxidation states of the remaining atoms (two silicon atoms and twelve boron atoms) must also be 0. We can set up the equation: 2x + 12(+3) - 8 = 0 where x is the oxidation state of silicon. Simplifying the equation, we get: 2x + 36 = 8 2x = -28 x = -14 Therefore, the oxidation state of silicon in SiO₂ is -14. However, since we are looking for the oxidation state in the context of typical chemical bonding, we should recognize that silicon typically forms covalent bonds with other nonmetals (in this case, oxygen and sulfur) and therefore has a positive oxidation state. The only answer choice that reflects this is A, which corresponds to an oxidation state of +4.

The Oxidation State of Silicon in SiO2 Is

The Oxidation State of Silicon in SiO₂ Is