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Challenging Oxidation Rule
If you have a binary compound (compound with two elements) and none of the rules above apply for any of the two elements, then you have to “uncrisscross.”
Assign oxidation states to ZnCl2.
None of the rules above apply to Zn or Cl. (Both elements are not part of groups 1 or 2, and they aren’t a F, O, or H – see rules) So, we uncrisscross, making it Zn2+Cl21-.
You thought you were finished? We saved the hardest ones for last!
UNIT 10: OXIDATION & REDUCTION © 364