How can one determine the oxidation number of an element in a chemical compound?
To determine the oxidation number of an element in a chemical compound, you need to follow these steps:
Identify the element in the compound.
Determine the common oxidation states for that element.
Assign the oxidation number based on the compound's overall charge and known rules for assigning oxidation numbers.
By following these steps, you can accurately determine the oxidation number of an element in a chemical compound.