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.

Indian anti-hunger activist Ankit Kawatra has honoured with the 2017 Queen’s Young Leaders award for his exceptional work in transforming the lives of others. Kawatra is among the 60 others from all 53 Commonwealth countries to be felicitated with the prestigious award by Queen Elizabeth (II) at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace in London on June 29, 2017. The honourees will also undergo a year-long mentoring and online learning by the University of Cambridge to build leadership capabilities and better their work towards the communities. He is the founder of Feeding India, a not-for profit organization that works towards solving problems of hunger, malnutrition and food wastage, mainly by redistributing extra food from restaurants, canteens, households, corporates etc. to help people in need.