In the redox reaction 2MnO4- + 5C2O4^2- + 16H+ → 2Mn^2+ + 10CO2 + 8H2O, what is

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Question: In the redox reaction 2MnO4- + 5C2O4^2- + 16H+ → 2Mn^2+ + 10CO2 + 8H2O, what is the oxidation state of carbon in C2O4^2-?

Options:

Correct Answer: +4

Solution:

In C2O4^2-, the oxidation state of carbon is +3.

In the redox reaction 2MnO4- + 5C2O4^2- + 16H+ → 2Mn^2+ + 10CO2 + 8H2O, what is the oxidation state of carbon in C2O4^2-?

In the redox reaction 2MnO4- + 5C2O4^2- + 16H+ → 2Mn^2+ + 10CO2 + 8H2O, what is the oxidation state of carbon in C2O4^2-?

Step 1: Identify the compound C2O4^2-. This is called oxalate.
Step 2: Determine the total charge of the oxalate ion, which is -2.
Step 3: Identify the oxidation state of oxygen. Oxygen typically has an oxidation state of -2.
Step 4: Since there are 4 oxygen atoms in C2O4^2-, calculate the total oxidation state contributed by oxygen: 4 * (-2) = -8.
Step 5: Let the oxidation state of carbon be x. There are 2 carbon atoms, so the total contribution from carbon is 2x.
Step 6: Set up the equation for the total charge: 2x + (-8) = -2.
Step 7: Solve the equation: 2x - 8 = -2, which simplifies to 2x = 6, and then x = 3.
Step 8: Since there are 2 carbon atoms, the oxidation state of each carbon atom is +3.

Oxidation States – Understanding how to determine the oxidation state of elements in compounds, particularly in polyatomic ions.
Redox Reactions – Recognizing the roles of oxidation and reduction in chemical reactions, and how to identify changes in oxidation states.