Question

What is the oxidation state of `"H"_2"S"_2"O"_2"`?

Answer 1

The oxidation state of the molecule is `0`.

Refer to the explanation below.

Explanation:

The overall oxidation state for a neutral compound always equals zero.

The oxidation numbers for each element are indicated below.

Hydrogen

The oxidation number of hydrogen in this case is `+1`. Since there are two hydrogen atoms the total oxidation number is `2xx+1=+2`

`stackrel(+2)"H"_2`

Oxygen

The oxidation number of oxygen is `-2`. Since there are two oxygen atoms, the total oxidation number for oxygen is `2xx-2=-4`.

`stackrel(-4)"O"_2`

Sulfur

The oxidation number of sulfur can be determined from the oxidation numbers for hydrogen and oxygen. The combined oxidation numbers for hydrogen and oxygen are `+2+(-4)=-2`.

Since the overall oxidation number of a neutral compound must be zero, the total oxidation number for sulfur in this compound must be `+2`, which means that each sulfur atom in the compound is `+1`, because `2xx+1=+2`.

`stackrel(+2)"S"_2`

The oxidation numbers for each element can be written above each element in the compound.

`stackrel(+2)"H"_2""stackrel(+2)"S"_2""stackrel(-4)"O"_2`