What is the oxidation number for oxygen?

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Answer 1 · 2014-03-05T04:01:45

In its compounds, Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of -2 , $O^-2$

$1s^2 2s^2 2p^4$

To complete its valence shell and satisfy the octet rule, the oxygen atom will take on two electrons and become $O^-2$ .

In peroxides, such as $"H"_2"O"_2$ , $"Na"_2"O"_2$ , and $"BaO"_2"$ , each oxygen atom has an oxidation number of -1.

In the free element, $"O"_2"$ , each oxygen atom has an oxidation number of zero.

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SMARTERTEACHER