What is the oxidation state of chlorine in ClO2?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking for the oxidation state of chlorine in the compound ClO2, which requires applying the rules for calculating oxidation states. For this compound, we can determine the oxidation state by analyzing the overall charge of the molecule and the oxidation states of the other elements involved.

Answer

+4

The oxidation state of chlorine in ClO2 is +4.

Answer for screen readers

The oxidation state of chlorine in ClO2 is +4.

More Information

The oxidation state of an element in a compound is determined by the oxidation states of the other elements in the compound. In ClO2, oxygen has an oxidation state of -2. With two oxygen atoms, that contributes a total of -4. Therefore, chlorine must have an oxidation state of +4 to balance the molecule.

Tips

When calculating oxidation states, ensure all states add up to the overall charge of the compound or ion.

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