What is the primary oxidation state of chromium in chromate ions?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the primary oxidation state of chromium in chromate ions?
+2
+3
+4
+6
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the primary oxidation state of chromium in chromate ions?
Step 1: Understand what an oxidation state is. It is a number that represents the total number of electrons that an atom can gain, lose, or share when forming a compound.
Step 2: Identify the chromate ion, which is represented as CrO4^2-. This means it has a charge of -2.
Step 3: Recognize that oxygen typically has an oxidation state of -2.
Step 4: Since there are 4 oxygen atoms in the chromate ion, calculate the total oxidation state contributed by oxygen: 4 oxygen atoms × -2 = -8.
Step 5: Set up an equation to find the oxidation state of chromium (Cr). Let the oxidation state of Cr be x. The equation will be: x + (-8) = -2.
Step 6: Solve the equation: x - 8 = -2, so x = -2 + 8, which gives x = +6.
Step 7: Conclude that the primary oxidation state of chromium in chromate ions is +6.
