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Multiple Choice
What is the oxidation state of the carbonyl carbon in the following molecule?
A
−1
B
+2
C
0
D
+1
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the carbonyl carbon in the molecule. The carbonyl carbon is the one double-bonded to the oxygen atom.
Determine the number of bonds the carbonyl carbon forms with atoms of different electronegativities. In this molecule, the carbonyl carbon is bonded to one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom.
Assign oxidation numbers based on electronegativity. Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, so the bond between carbon and oxygen is considered as if the electrons are fully owned by oxygen. This gives the carbon a +2 contribution from the C=O bond.
Consider the bond between the carbonyl carbon and the hydrogen atom. Carbon is more electronegative than hydrogen, so the electrons in this bond are considered to be fully owned by carbon, giving a -1 contribution.
Add the contributions from each bond to determine the oxidation state of the carbonyl carbon. The oxidation state is calculated as +2 (from C=O) - 1 (from C-H), resulting in an oxidation state of +1 for the carbonyl carbon.