What is the oxidation number of chlorine in HClO4?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the oxidation number of chlorine in the compound HClO4 (perchloric acid). To determine the oxidation number, we need to consider the typical oxidation states of the other elements in the compound and how they contribute to the overall charge.
Answer
+7
The final answer is +7
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is +7
More Information
In HClO4 (Perchloric acid), the oxidation number of chlorine is +7. This is determined by assigning oxidation numbers to hydrogen (+1) and oxygen (-2 for each of the four oxygens), and solving for chlorine to balance the overall charge of the molecule, which is neutral.
Tips
Ensure to correctly balance the total oxidation numbers of all atoms in the molecule to zero for neutral compounds.