For the perchlorate ion ClO₄^- , what are the oxidation states of the Cl and O, respectively A) - 1, - 2 B) +8, - 2 C) +7, - 2 D) +6, - 2 E) +2, - 1

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The total charge on the perchlorate ion is -1, meaning that the sum of the oxidation states of all the atoms in the ion must equal -1. We know that the oxidation state of oxygen is almost always -2, so we can start by assuming that the four oxygens in the ion have a combined oxidation state of -8. 
We also know that the overall charge of the ion is -1, so the sum of the oxidation states of chlorine and sulfur must be +7 (-1 - (-8)). Since there is only one sulfur atom in the ion, it must have an oxidation state of +6. 
Now we can use the sum of the oxidation states of chlorine and sulfur to solve for the oxidation state of chlorine: 
Cl + (+6) = +7 
Cl = +1 
Therefore, the oxidation states of Cl and O, respectively, are +1 and -2. The correct answer is C.

For the Perchlorate Ion ClO4- , What Are the Oxidation

For the Perchlorate Ion ClO₄^- , What Are the Oxidation