Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds

Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

Organic Chemistry

13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds

Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

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2:52 minutes

Problem 5b

Textbook Question

Calculate the oxidation numbers for the indicated atoms.
b.

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the atom for which you need to calculate the oxidation number. In the image, the arrow points to the carbon atom in the carboxylic acid functional group.

Understand the general rules for assigning oxidation numbers: Oxygen is typically -2, hydrogen is +1, and carbon's oxidation number can vary depending on its bonding.

Consider the structure of the carboxylic acid group. The carbon atom is bonded to two oxygen atoms and one hydrogen atom. The carbon is also bonded to the phenyl group.

Calculate the oxidation number for the carbon atom. Assign oxidation numbers to the atoms directly bonded to the carbon: Oxygen is -2, hydrogen is +1, and the phenyl group is considered neutral for this calculation.

Use the formula for oxidation number calculation: The sum of oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero. Set up the equation based on the bonds: x + (-2) + (-2) + (+1) = 0, where x is the oxidation number of the carbon atom.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Oxidation Number

The oxidation number is a theoretical charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, representing the number of electrons lost or gained by the atom. It helps in understanding electron transfer in redox reactions. For organic compounds, it is calculated by considering the electronegativity of atoms and the bonding environment, with more electronegative atoms assigned negative oxidation states.

Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that determine the chemical properties of those molecules. In the given structure, the hydroxyl group (-OH) and the carbonyl group (C=O) are key functional groups. These groups influence the molecule's reactivity and the oxidation state of the carbon atoms they are attached to, as they affect electron distribution.

Electronegativity and Bond Polarity

Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond. It plays a crucial role in determining oxidation numbers, as more electronegative atoms pull electrons towards themselves, affecting the oxidation state of bonded atoms. In the structure, oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, influencing the oxidation states of the carbon atoms in the carbonyl and hydroxyl groups.

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