Oxidation States

Oxidation states are used to identify the degree of oxidation of elements within a compound. Oxidation states help scientists to classify, understand and predict the behavior of complex molecules and ions. Oxidation states are assigned to elements by analyzing the number of electrons gained, lost or shared with other elements within a compound. Oxidation states are useful for predicting chemical reactivity, recognizing possible reactants, and identifying the products of a chemical reaction. They are also used to classify elements on the periodic table, helping to indicate how elements may interact with each other in different compounds.