Chemistry Examples

$V I n O s H g H \cdot H \cdot H \cdot H$

Step 1

Since $O s$ is in column $0$ of the periodic table, it will share $0$ electrons and use an oxidation state of $0$ .

$O s = 1 (0) = 0$

Step 2

Since $H$ is in column $1$ of the periodic table, it will share $1$ electrons and use an oxidation state of $1$ .

$H = 1 (- 7) = - 7$

Step 3

Since $H g$ is in column $0$ of the periodic table, it will share $0$ electrons and use an oxidation state of $0$ .

$H g = 1 (0) = 0$

Step 4

Since $I n$ is in column $3$ of the periodic table, it will share $3$ electrons and use an oxidation state of $3$ .

$I n = 1 (- 5) = - 5$

Step 5

To find the oxidation state of $V$ , set up an equation of each oxidation state found earlier and set it equal to $0$ .

$0 - 7 + 0 - 5 + 1 x = 0$

Step 6

Solve the equation for $x$ .

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Step 6.1

Simplify $0 + - 7 + 0 + - 5 + 1 x$ .

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Step 6.1.1

Combine the opposite terms in $0 + - 7 + 0 + - 5 + 1 x$ .

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Step 6.1.1.1

Subtract $7$ from $0$ .

$- 7 + 0 - 5 + 1 x = 0$

Step 6.1.1.2

Add $- 7$ and $0$ .

$- 7 - 5 + 1 x = 0$

Step 6.1.2

Simplify the expression.

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Step 6.1.2.1

Multiply $x$ by $1$ .

$- 7 - 5 + x = 0$

Step 6.1.2.2

Subtract $5$ from $- 7$ .

$- 12 + x = 0$

Step 6.2

Add $12$ to both sides of the equation.

$x = 12$

Step 7

$V$ is using an oxidation state of $12$ .

$12$

Step 8

This is the full list of oxidation states for this molecule.

$O s = 0, H = - 7, H g = 0, I n = - 5, V = 12$