Which two elements are most likely to have the same oxidation state in an ionic compound?
A) Al, Cl
B) S, Ca
C) Li, Be
D) Cl, F
E) none of these

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The two elements that are most likely to have the same oxidation state in an ionic compound are those that are close to each other in the periodic table. Both chlorine (Cl) and fluorine (F) are halogens and are located in the same group, so they have the same valence electron configuration and therefore have the same oxidation state in ionic compounds. The other answer choices do not fit this criterion.

Which Two Elements Are Most Likely to Have the Same