What is the oxidation number of sulfur in H2S?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the oxidation number of sulfur (S) in the compound hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). To determine the oxidation number, we need to consider the typical oxidation states of the other elements in the compound, in this case, hydrogen (H) is usually +1, which helps us calculate the oxidation state of sulfur.
Answer
-2
The oxidation number of sulfur in H2S is -2.
Answer for screen readers
The oxidation number of sulfur in H2S is -2.
More Information
The oxidation number of each hydrogen atom in H2S is +1. Since the sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound must be zero, sulfur's oxidation number is -2.
Tips
Ensure that the sum of the oxidation numbers for all atoms in a molecule equals the molecule's overall charge. For neutral molecules, this sum should be zero.
Sources
- How to find the Oxidation Number for S in H2S - YouTube - youtube.com
- What is the oxidation number sulfur in H2S? - Socratic - socratic.org
- What is the oxidation number of sulfur in H2S?-2-112 - toppr.com
