Question

In oxygen difluoride $\left(O{F}_2\right)$ and dioxygen difluoride $\left(O_2{F}_2\right)$, the oxygen is assigned an oxidation number of

• A. $+1$ and $+2$ respectively
• B. $+2$ and $+2$ respectively
• C. $+1$ and $+1$ respectively
• D. $+2$ and $+1$ respectively

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Electronegativity of fluorine is more than that of oxygen atom, so $F$ gains electron with negative charge.
In oxygen difluoride $\left(O{F}_2\right)$ and dioxygen difluoride $\left(O_2{F}_2\right)$, oxygen transfers electron to fluorine atom.
Thus, Oxidation number of oxygen in $O{F}_2=+2$
Oxidation number of oxygen in $O_2{F}_2=+1$.