What is the oxidation number of chlorine in ClO4?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking for the oxidation number of chlorine in the compound ClO4, also known as perchlorate. To determine the oxidation number, we consider the typical oxidation state of oxygen and use the overall charge of the molecule to solve for chlorine's oxidation state.

More Information

The oxidation number indicates the degree of oxidation (loss of electrons) of an atom in a chemical compound. In the perchlorate ion (ClO4-), chlorine has an unusually high oxidation state of +7 due to its bonding with oxygen atoms, which are more electronegative.

Tips

A common mistake is forgetting to account for the charge of the ion when calculating oxidation numbers, which can lead to incorrect results.

Sources

• The oxidation number of Cl in ClO4? - vaia.com
• Solved The oxidation number of Cl in ClO4? - studocu.com