What is the oxidation state of the carbon atom in carbon dioxide?Select answer from the options below4  3  -2  2  1  -1  -4  0

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the compound in question: carbon dioxide (CO₂).
2. Determine the oxidation states of the elements involved, particularly carbon.

Relevant Concepts

• The oxidation state of an element in a compound is a measure of the degree of oxidation (loss of electrons) of that element.

Analysis and Detail

1. In carbon dioxide (CO₂), oxygen typically has an oxidation state of -2.
2. Since there are two oxygen atoms in carbon dioxide, the total contribution of oxygen to the oxidation state is: $2 \times (-2) = -4$
3. Let $x$ represent the oxidation state of carbon. The sum of the oxidation states in a neutral compound must equal zero: $x + (-4) = 0$
4. Solving for $x$: $x = 4$

Verify and Summarize

1. The calculation shows that the oxidation state of carbon in CO₂ is +4, which corresponds to the expected valence state of carbon when bonded to more electronegative elements like oxygen.

Final Answer

The oxidation state of the carbon atom in carbon dioxide (CO₂) is 4.