Answer: The oxidation number of chlorine in [tex]Cl_2[/tex] is zero
Explanation:
Oxidation number or oxidation state : It represent the number of electrons lost or gained by the atoms of an element in a compound.
Rules for Oxidation Numbers are :
1. The oxidation number of a free element is always zero.
2. The oxidation number of a monatomic ion equals the charge of the ion.
3. The oxidation number of oxygen (O) in compounds is usually -2.
4. The oxidation number of a Group 17 element in a binary compound is -1.
5. The oxidation number of Hydrogen (H) is +1, but it is -1 in when combined with less electronegative elements.
6. The sum of the oxidation numbers of all of the atoms in a neutral compound is zero.
7. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion is equal to the charge of the ion.
As [tex]Cl_2[/tex] exists as a free molecule, its oxidation state is zero.
