question 5 (1 point)\nassign oxidation numbers to so₂.\ns - \no -

Answer

Explanation:

Step1: Recall oxidation - number rules for oxygen

Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of - 2 in compounds.

Step2: Set up an equation for the sum of oxidation numbers

Let the oxidation number of S be (x). In (SO_{2}), there is 1 S atom and 2 O atoms. The sum of oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is 0. So, (x+2\times(- 2)=0).

Step3: Solve for the oxidation number of S

[ \begin{align*} x - 4&=0\ x&= + 4 \end{align*} ]

Answer:

S - +4, O - -2