oxidation state
Charge on atom
Oxidation state is a number assigned to an atom in a compound that represents its degree of oxidation—how many electrons it has gained or lost relative to its neutral state.
A positive oxidation state indicates electron loss; negative indicates gain.
The concept is central to balancing chemical equations and understanding redox reactions: Iron has an oxidation state of +3 in rust.
Electron gain or loss alone
- oxidantElectron-accepting substance
- reducing agentElectron-donating chemical species
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- rustingMetal oxidation process
combustion · electrochemistry · anode · cathode · titration · electrolysis · battery
Atom's bonding capacity
- cationPositively charged ion
- anionNegatively charged ion
- ionsAtoms bearing charge
- electropositiveTends to lose electrons
electronegative · transition metals · lanthanides · actinides · periodic table
Atomic electron attraction strength
half-reaction
Electron gain or loss alone
- oxidantElectron-accepting substance
- reducing agentElectron-donating chemical species
- corrosionChemical wearing away
rusting · combustion · electrochemistry · anode · cathode · titration · electrolysis · battery
valency
Atom's bonding capacity
electropositive · electronegative · transition metals · lanthanides · actinides · periodic table
electronegativity
Atomic electron attraction strength