Question

What is the oxidation state of chromium in CrCl3?

Answer 1

`+3`

Explanation:

In this compound, `CrCl_3`, it has a net charge of `0`.

Chlorine is more electronegative than chromium, and so it will possess its usual state of `-1`. There are three chlorine atoms in total, and so their total charge will be `-1*3=-3`.

Let `x` be the oxidation number of chromium. Then we have,

`x-3=0`

`x=3`

And so, chromium would have an oxidation state of `+3`.