Question

What is the oxidation number of sulfur in sulfuric acid (H$_2$SO$_4$)?

• A. 4
• B. 6
• C. 8
• D. None of the above

Hint:

When determining the oxidation state of an element in a compound, balance the total oxidation states based on known values for other elements in the compound.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Recognize the chemical formula for sulfuric acid, which is H₂SO₄.

Step 2: Recall the oxidation numbers for hydrogen (H) as +1 and oxygen (O) as -2.

Step 3: Assign the variable x to the oxidation number of sulfur (S). Note that the total oxidation number for the neutral compound H₂SO₄ is 0.

Step 4: Formulate the equation based on oxidation numbers: (2 × +1) + (1 × x) + (4 × -2) = 0 Simplifying: 2 + x - 8 = 0 Solving for x: x = 6

Final Answer: +6