What is Carbon's oxidation number when it is in the thiocyanate ion (SCN-1)?
This is a question that I have on my chemistry test that I have to finish tomorrow.
Please help ASAP if you can.
=) thanks
Answer:
-2 + x + (-3)= -1
-2 + x -3= -1
x= -1+2+3
x=4
so the O.N. of carbon in the thiocyanate ion is +4
The sum of oxidation numers of S , C and N must add up to -1.
But the number of possibilities for C appears unlimited
You might not know but o.n. of S generally run from -2 to +6 and those of N from -3 to +5 .
Correspondingly , there are 81 possible combinations ranging from -2 for S and -3 for N ( in which case C wuold come out to be +4 which is quite resonable ) to the othe extreme where S is taken to be + 6 and N is taken to be +5 (in this case C would be -12 which is unreasonable).
However for balancing equations it does not matter which value of o.n. is taken so long as we are consistent with the other atoms and stick with them in the course of the reaction
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