oxidation number
Noun
Meaning
the degree of oxidation of an atom or ion or molecule; for simple atoms or ions the oxidation number is equal to the ionic charge
Source: WordNetSynonyms
Hypernyms
Examples
the oxidation number of hydrogen is +1 and of oxygen is -2
In 1947 Linus Pauling proposed that the oxidation number could be determined using the electronegativity of the atoms to determine the "ions" in the formal determination of oxidation number.
In coordination chemistry, "oxidation number" is defined differently from "oxidation state".
In inorganic nomenclature, the oxidation state is determined and expressed as an oxidation number, and is represented by a Roman numeral placed after the element name.
Oxidation number in coordination compounds While oxidation state and oxidation number are often used interchangeably, oxidation number is used in coordination chemistry with a slightly different meaning.
Phosphorus has an oxidation number of -3 in phosphine.