Question

How do we apply oxidation numbers in real life?

Answer 1

Oxidation number of any element tells us the type of reaction it undergoes. Oxidation number is also called oxidation state of any element. It is calculated for elements in their compound form.

Complete answer: Oxidation number of an atom is useful in determining the extent up to which it can lose or gain electrons in a reaction. When any atom in a chemical reaction, on the reactants side has an increase in oxidation number on the products side, then oxidation is said to occur. When any atom on the reactant side has a decrease in oxidation number on the product side, then reduction is said to occur.
The oxidation and reduction in any reaction is useful in real life in determining various things as follows:
- We can take the substances with good oxidizing power to be at anode in an electrochemical battery.
- In electrolytic refining, we can tell the amount of electricity needed to reduce the ore into the metal form through oxidation number.
- It can tell us to what extent the atom can be oxidized. As if any atom has a lower oxidation number it can be further oxidized. For instance, CO has oxidation number +2 this means it can be further oxidized to $C{{O}_{2}}$with oxidation number +4.
Hence, by knowing the oxidation number, we can know that the element can undergo oxidation or reduction.

Note: The element that undergoes oxidation, gains electrons and is said to be reduced, thus called oxidizing agent, while the element that undergoes reduction, loses electrons and is said to be oxidized, thus called as reducing agent.