Notes on Smog and Acid Rain

Oxidation States:

• Atoms of a free element have oxidation state of 0

• Total of all oxidation states must add up to charge on the species

• Group 1 metals have oxidation numbers of +1 in their compounds

• Group 2 metals have oxidation numbers of +2

• Fluorine in compounds is +1

• Hydrogen in compounds is +1 (except when bound to metals in hydrides, e.g. LiH, where it is -1)

• Oxygen is -2 (except in peroxides, e.g. H2O2, where it is -1)

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