Given the neutral oxide, #Mn_3O_4#...what are the probable oxidation states of the manganese centres given that the metal expresses ONLY two oxidation states in this species?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 5, 2018

The sum of the oxidation numbers equals the charge on the ion...

Explanation:

Of course, here, the parent species is NEUTRAL, and therefore the sum of the oxidation numbers EQUALS ZERO.

The oxidation number of oxygen, as oxide, is typically #-II#...and so #3xxMn_"oxidation number"-8=0#...#Mn_"average oxidation number"=+8/3#...and so we gots #2xxMn^(+III)+Mn^(+II)#...

The solid state structure does correspond to a formulation of #MnO*Mn_2O_3#...the which does reflect the oxidation states we assigned. Capisce?

Related questions
See all questions in Oxidation Numbers
Impact of this question
2434 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License