Question

Determine if each statement is true or false.(4 points) True False Fluorine is the most electronegative element and will always be reduced. Oxidation states are real numbers. The assigned oxidation number is always the same thing as an ion's charge for that that specific atom. Redox reactions always involve oxygen as the oxidizing agent.

Answer 1

Let's evaluate each statement one by one:

1. Fluorine is the most electronegative element and will always be reduced.

   • True: Fluorine is indeed the most electronegative element in the periodic table. In redox reactions, it's usually the case that the most electronegative element can readily gain electrons (be reduced).

2. Oxidation states are real numbers.

   • False: Oxidation states (or numbers) are assigned values and can be whole numbers, but they can also be fractions in some cases (like in certain coordination compounds), although they are typically represented as integers for practical purposes in redox chemistry.

3. The assigned oxidation number is always the same thing as an ion's charge for that specific atom.

   • False: While for monoatomic ions the oxidation state is equal to the ion's charge, this is not true for atoms in compounds. In compounds, the oxidation state can differ from the ion's charge due to the presence of other atoms influencing electron sharing (e.g., in covalent bonds).

4. Redox reactions always involve oxygen as the oxidizing agent.

   • False: While many redox reactions do involve oxygen, it is not a requirement. Any substance that can gain electrons may serve as an oxidizing agent. There are plenty of redox reactions that do not involve oxygen at all.

In summary, the statements evaluated are:

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. False