Table 4.3 Rules for Assigning an Oxidation Number (O.N.)
1. For an atom in its elemental form (Na, O2, Cl2, etc.): O.N. = 0
2. For a monatomic ion: O.N. = ion charge
3. The sum of O.N. values for the atoms in a compound equals zero. The sum of O.N. values for the atoms in a polyatomic ion equals the ion’s charge.
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