Answer to Question #103446 in Inorganic Chemistry for Nidhi

Question

What is the difference between valency and oxidation state? Give the rule to deduce the oxidation state.

Answer 1

Valency is the number of electrons present in the outermost shell of a particular element whereas oxidation state is the number of electrons that an element in a particular compound has lost or gained. The oxidation number of a free element is always 0. The oxidation number of a mono atomic ion equals the charge of the ion.