What is the oxidation number for #KCLO_3#?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 23, 2016

The oxidation number of chlorine in #"potassium chlorate"#, #KClO_3#, is #+V#.

Explanation:

And the oxidation number of chlorine in #"potassium perchlorate"#, #KClO_4#, is..........?

For the chlorate, we know the salt is a neutral compound. The oxidation numbers must thus sum to zero. Potassium generally has an oxidation number of #+I#, and it does so here; oxygen generally has an oxidation number of #-II# and it does so here. So simply the sum the oxidation numbers:

For #KClO_3#, #I+3xx(-II)+Cl^"oxidation number" =0#.

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