What is the oxidation state of the underlined atom in the compound:
H₂S ?

Question

What is the oxidation state of the underlined atom in the compound: H₂S ? A)+1 B)+2 C)-2 D)+6 E)+4

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In this compound, the only atom with a known oxidation state is sulfur. The sum of the oxidation states in a compound is equal to the overall charge, which in this case is 0. Since there are no other charged atoms, sulfur must have an oxidation state of -2 in order to balance out the oxidation states of the other atoms (which are not given). Therefore, the underlined sulfur atom has an oxidation state of -2.

What Is the Oxidation State of the Underlined Atom in the Compound