What is the oxidation number for each atom? (NH4)2Ce(SO4)3.

All numbers are supposed to subscripts.

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 21, 2017

Subscripts?.......We commonly superscript the oxidation number.

Explanation:

We have the #Ce(IV)# salt, #(NH_4^+)_2[Ce(SO_4)_3]^(2-)#, #"ceric ammonium sulfate"#

Now the sum of the oxidation numbers equals the charge on the ion. For #NH_4^+# we gots #4xxstackrel(+I)H#, and #1xxstackrel(-III)N#; the sum of the oxidation numbers is #+1# as required for the ammonium ion.

And for the ceric salt, we gots #stackrel(+IV)"Ce"#, and #stackrel(VI^+)S# and #stackrel(-II)O#: #4+3xx6-24=-2# as required for #[Ce(SO_4)_3]^(2-)#

See here for general rules.

And see [here for another example of assignment of oxidation number.](https://socratic.org/questions/what-is-the-oxidation-number-of-ammonia-nh3)

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