Wait what?? Oxidation state question...

[pineappletree]

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Apparently the oxidation state for Zn in Zn(OH)4 -2 is +2~

I was wondering, how is this possible? Zn is attached to 4 OH groups, which are all more EN than Zn.

Shouldn't Zn have an oxidation state of +6???

 

[Phantastic]

Each OH- is negative (-) 1.
If the overall "charge" is to add up to -2, then the Zn must be +2 oxidation state.

 

[loveoforganic]

Zn has an additional pair of electrons in this instance.

Break it down step by step.

Zn(OH)4--

This complex ion has an overall charge of -- (2-).

There are 4 hydroxides (OH-) bound to the Zn, contributing a charge of 4-.

To get an overall charge of 2-, the Zn must be in oxidation state 2+ (4- + 2+ = 2-)

 

[pineappletree]

Oh I see~~

haha, for some reason I kept assigning -2 to oxygens (from the carbonyl examples)
Thank you

 

[fizzgig]

the oxygens do have -2.
oxys -2*4 = -8
hydrogens +1*4=4
total = -4

so zinc must have +4 to oppose it, except this is an ion, so you want the total to end up being -2, so drop zinc by 2 --> = +2 oxidation state