Questions

The given compound is NaHCO3 Sodium bicarbonate which is commonly known as Baking soda.

Oxidation numbers are the charges on ions. When a neutral atom loses electrons it becomes positively charged. When a neutral atom gains electrons it becomes negatively charged.

Here the C represents the oxidation state of carbon in this compound. Compounds are electrically neutral, which is why we set the sum of the oxidation states equal to zero.

Sodium has a +1 oxidation state. Hydrogen has a +1 oxidation state. Oxygen has a -2 oxidation state. There are three oxygen atoms, which means the total oxidation state provided by both oxygen ions is -6. Adding up these oxidation states we get:

1 + 1 + (-6) + C = 0

-4 + C = 0

=> C = 4

This means the oxidation state of carbon in this compound is +4.

Nirmala Sitharaman, who took oath as the new Cabinet member in september 2017 under Narendra Modi, has been given the Defence Ministry portfolio. Incidentally, she has become the first dedicated woman defence minister of India and only the second woman to hold the crucial ministry after Indira Gandhi. 

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Sunanda K Datta-Ray