What is the oxidation number of chlorine in each of the...

What is the oxidation number of chlorine in each of the following oxoacids? (a) hypochlorous acid (HC1O);
(b) chloric acid $\left(\mathrm{HClO}_{3}\right) ;$ (c) perchloric acid $\left(\mathrm{HClO}_{4}\right)$

Key Concepts

Oxidation Number

The oxidation number is a numerical value assigned to an element in a compound or ion that represents the number of electrons lost or gained relative to the elemental state. It serves as a bookkeeping tool to track electron transfer in chemical reactions, particularly redox reactions, and is calculated based on a set of standardized rules that consider the electronegativity and bonding environment of the atoms.

Rules for Determining Oxidation States

Determining the oxidation state of an element in a compound involves using specific rules, such as assigning hydrogen a value of +1 (except in hydrides), oxygen typically a value of -2, and ensuring that the sum of oxidation numbers in a neutral molecule equals zero (or the net charge in an ion equals that charge). These rules enable the systematic calculation of oxidation states even in complex molecules and are vital when analyzing redox behavior.

Oxoacids

Oxoacids are acids that contain hydrogen, oxygen, and a central non-metal atom. The structure of these acids involves the central atom bonded to oxygen atoms, and possibly hydrogen atoms, which impacts the oxidation state of the central element. The presence and number of oxygen atoms in an oxoacid directly affect the oxidation number of the central atom, making it a key factor when calculating oxidation states in these compounds.

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