Question #3046a

1 Answer
Michael
Nov 5, 2014

In this compound Li is +1, Cl is +3 and O is -2.

This compound is lithium chlorite. It may also be called lithium chlorate (III).

The ions present are #Li^+# and #ClO_2^-#

The oxidation number of an element is the charge on the atom if the compound was completely ionic.

Oxygen is always assigned -2 in compounds (except with fluorine).

So in #ClO_2^-# the 2 oxygens contribute 2 x -2 = -4

Since the net charge on the ion is -1 then chlorine must be +3. The net charge on the ion is the arithmetic sum of the oxidation states i.e +3 - 4 = -1.

In #Li^+# the oxidation state of lithium must be +1.

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