Question

Oxidation Number of Oxygen?

Answer 1

Oxygen typically has an oxidation number of $-2$.

Answer 2

Oxygen generally has an oxidation state of $-2$ in most compounds (e.g., $CaO$). However, there are exceptions:

• In peroxides (e.g., $H_2O_2$), oxygen has an oxidation state of $-1$.
• In superoxides (e.g., $KO_2$), it is $-\frac{1}{2}$.
• In compounds with fluorine (e.g., $OF_2$), oxygen is assigned a positive oxidation state of $+2$.