What is the oxidation of #Cl# in #"perchlorate anion"#, #ClO_4^(-)#?

1 Answer
anor277
Sep 12, 2016

The oxidation number of #Cl# in #"perchlorate"# is #+VII#.

Explanation:

With an #Al^(3+)# gegenion, th charge on perchlorate is clearly #-1#.

Thus #Cl_"Oxidation number"+4xxO_"Oxidation number"# #-=# #-1#.

#O_"Oxidation number"# is almost always #-II#, and it is here. This #Cl_"Oxidation number"=VII+#.

In perchlorate salts, chlorine assumes its maximum oxidation number, its group number. For chlorate, #ClO_3^-#, #Cl_"Oxidation number"=V+#.

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