Question

Assign an oxidation number to each element in the reaction.

CO(g) + 2H2(g) → CH3OH(g)

In CO, the oxidation number of C is
, and that of O is
. In H2, the oxidation number of H is
. In CH3OH, the oxidation number of C is
, that of O is
, and that of H is
.

Answer 1

In CO: C = +2, O = −2.
In H2: H = 0.
In CH3OH: C = −2, O = −2, H = +1.