What is the oxidation number of a Group VIIA element in a compound?

1 Answer
Ernest Z.
Jul 27, 2014

The oxidation number of a Group 7 element depends on the compound it is in.

Explanation:

The most common oxidation number for Group 7 elements is -1, as in #"HF"#, #"CaCl"_2#, #"NaBr"#, and #"KI"#.

#"F"# is the most electronegative element in the Periodic Table. It isn't going to give up its electrons.

Its oxidation number in compounds is always -1.

But the other Group 7 elements can have various oxidation states.

For example, #"Cl"# forms compounds with all the oxidation states except +2:

  • +1 — in #"NaClO"#
  • +3 — in #"NaClO"_2#
  • +4 — in #"ClO"_2#
  • +5 — in #"KClO"_3#
  • +6 — in #"Cl"_2"O"_6#
  • +7 — in #"KClO"_4#

#"Br"# and #"I"# form compounds with all the above oxidation states except +6 (some of these compounds are unstable).

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