8.1 Assign oxidation number to the underlined elements in each of the following species:

(a) NaH2PO4 (b) NaHSO4 (c) H4P2O7 (d) K2MnO4

(e) CaO2 (f) NaBH4 (g) H2S2O7 (h) KAl(SO4)2.12 H2O

(a) NaH2PO4

Let the oxidation number of P be x.
We know that,
Oxidation number of Na = +1
Oxidation number of H = +1
Oxidation number of O = –2

Na+1H+12PxO-24

Then, we have

1(+1)+2(+1)+1(x)+4(-2)=0

1+2+x-8=0

x=+5

Hence, the oxidation number of P is +5.

(b) NaHSO4

Na+1H+1SxO4-2

Then, we have

1(+1)+1(+1)+1(x)+4(-2)=0

1+1+x-8=0

x=+6

Hence, the oxidation number of S is + 6.

(c) H4P2O7

H+14Px2O-27

Then, we have

4(+1)+2(x)+7(-2)=0

4+2 x-14=0

2x=+10

x=+5

Hence, the oxidation number of P is + 5.

(d) K2MnO4

K+12MxnO-24

Then, we have

2(+1)+x+4(-2)=0

2+x-8=0

x=+6

Hence, the oxidation number of Mn is + 6.

(e) CaO2

Ca+2Ox2

Then, we have

(+2)+2(x)=0

2+2 x=0

x=-1

Hence, the oxidation number of O is – 1.

(f) NaBH4

Na+1BxH-14

Then, we have

1(+1)+1(x)+4(-1)=0

1+x-4=0

x=+3

Hence, the oxidation number of B is + 3.

(g) H2S2O7

H+12Sx2O-27

Then, we have

2(+1)+2(x)+7(-2)=0

2+2x-14=0

2x=12

x=+6

Hence, the oxidation number of S is + 6.

(h) KAlSO42·12H2O

K+1 Al3+SxO2-42·12H+12O-2

Then, we have

1(+1)+1(+3)+2(x)+8(-2)+24(+1)+12(-2)=0

1+3+2 x-16+24-24=0

2x=12

x=+6

Or,
We can ignore the water molecule as it is a neutral molecule. Then, the sum of the oxidation numbers of all atoms of the water molecule may be taken as zero. Therefore, after ignoring the water molecule, we have

1(+1)+1(+3)+2(x)+8(-2)=0

1+3+2 x-16=0

2x=12

x=+6

Hence, the oxidation number of S is + 6.