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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Covalency and Oxidation State?

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The main difference between covalency and oxidation state lies in their definitions and the properties they describe:

  • Covalency:
  • Refers to the number of covalent bonds that an atom can form with other atoms.
  • Covalent bonds are formed when atoms share electrons, and covalency depends on the number of electrons that an atom can share with other atoms.
  • Oxidation State:
  • Refers to the total number of electrons an atom gains or loses to form a chemical bond with other atoms.
  • The oxidation state can be positive, negative, or zero, and it is related to the number of atoms present in the outermost shell of an atom.

For example, consider a molecule of N(2)O. The oxidation state of nitrogen in this molecule is +3 because it has gained three electrons from two oxygen atoms. On the other hand, the covalency of nitrogen in N(2)O is 2 because it shares two electron pairs with each oxygen atom.

In summary, covalency describes the number of covalent bonds an atom can form, while oxidation state represents the total number of electrons gained or lost by an atom to form a chemical bond.

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  • What is the Difference Between Covalency and Oxidation State?
  • Comparative Table: Covalency vs Oxidation State

    • Comparative Table: Covalency vs Oxidation State

    The main difference between covalency and oxidation state lies in their definitions and the concepts they describe. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

    Feature Covalency Oxidation State
    Definition Covalency is the number of covalent bonds an atom can form with other atoms. Oxidation state is the number of electrons an atom gains or loses when forming chemical bonds.
    Description Covalency depends on the number of electrons an atom can share with other atoms. Oxidation state is a measure of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a compound.
    Concept Covalency is related to the sharing of electrons between atoms in a molecule. Oxidation state is related to the gaining or losing of electrons by atoms in a compound.
    Example The covalency of nitrogen (N) in N2O5 is 4, as it shares 4 electrons with oxygen atoms. The oxidation state of nitrogen (N) in N2O5 is +5, as it gains 5 electrons when forming bonds with oxygen atoms.

    In summary, covalency refers to the number of covalent bonds an atom can form, while oxidation state refers to the number of electrons an atom gains or loses when forming chemical bonds. These two concepts are distinct and should not be used interchangeably.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.