Elements and Oxidation Numbers
Element Common Compounds / Ions Oxidation Numbers Notes / Examples
Hydrogen (H) H■, H■, NaH 0, +1, –1 +1 in most compounds, –1 in hydrides
Oxygen (O) O■, H■O, H■O■, OF■ 0, –2, –1, +2 –2 usually, –1 in peroxides, +2 in OF■
Copper (Cu) Cu, Cu■, Cu²■ 0, +1, +2 Cu■O (Cu■), CuO (Cu²■)
Iron (Fe) Fe, Fe²■, Fe³■ 0, +2, +3 Fe²■ → Fe³■ is oxidation
Zinc (Zn) Zn, Zn²■ 0, +2 Always forms Zn²■
Silver (Ag) Ag, Ag■ 0, +1 Found in Ag and AgNO■
Magnesium (Mg) Mg, Mg²■ 0, +2 Always forms Mg²■
Aluminium (Al) Al, Al³■ 0, +3 Commonly forms Al³■
Manganese (Mn) Mn, Mn²■, Mn■■, Mn■■, Mn■■ 0, +2, +4, +6, +7 MnO■ (+4), KMnO■ (+7)
Chromium (Cr) Cr, Cr²■, Cr³■, Cr■■ 0, +2, +3, +6 Cr■O■ (+3), K■Cr■O■ (+6)
Nitrogen (N) N■, NH■, NO, NO■, NO■■ 0, –3, +2, +4, +5 Range from –3 to +5
Sulphur (S) S, H■S, SO■, SO■, SO■²■ 0, –2, +4, +6 Found in sulphides and sulphates
Chlorine (Cl) Cl■, Cl■, ClO■, ClO■■, ClO■■ 0, –1, +1, +5, +7 Range from –1 to +7
Carbon (C) C, CH■, CO, CO■ 0, –4, +2, +4 In organic and oxide forms
Lead (Pb) Pb, Pb²■, Pb■■ 0, +2, +4 PbO (+2), PbO■ (+4)
Tin (Sn) Sn, Sn²■, Sn■■ 0, +2, +4 Similar to lead
Potassium (K) K, K■ 0, +1 Always +1
Sodium (Na) Na, Na■ 0, +1 Always +1
Calcium (Ca) Ca, Ca²■ 0, +2 Always +2