Numford
Oxidation number

Pb in Pb₃O₄

Pb is +8/3 in red lead, an average.

Oxidation number

Type a formula or an ion: K2Cr2O7, Cr2O7 2-, MnO4-, NH4+ or K4[Fe(CN)6]. Put a known ion in brackets when two elements are unknown. Pick an element to solve for it.

Pb+8/3average

Pb₃O₄ is 2PbO·PbO₂: two Pb are +2 and one is +4. The rules give the average, +8/3.

  1. Oxygen is −2 in most compounds.
  2. The oxidation numbers add up to the charge, 0: 4(−2) + 3x = 0.
  3. 3x = +8, so x = +8/3.
Rule steps

How to find it

  1. Oxygen is −2 in most compounds.
  2. The oxidation numbers add up to the charge, 0: 4(−2) + 3x = 0.
  3. 3x = +8, so x = +8/3.

Pb₃O₄ is 2PbO·PbO₂: two Pb are +2 and one is +4. The rules give the average, +8/3.

Every atom

All the oxidation numbers in Pb₃O₄

  • O −24 atoms, oxygen
  • Pb +8/33 atoms, sum rule
Questions

Pb in Pb₃O₄: quick answers

What is the oxidation number of Pb in Pb₃O₄?

Pb in Pb₃O₄ (red lead) is +8/3, an average over its atoms. Pb₃O₄ is 2PbO·PbO₂: two Pb are +2 and one is +4. The rules give the average, +8/3.

How do you find the oxidation number of Pb in Pb₃O₄?

Oxygen is −2 in most compounds. The oxidation numbers add up to the charge, 0: 4(−2) + 3x = 0. 3x = +8, so x = +8/3.

What are the oxidation numbers of the other atoms in Pb₃O₄?

O −2. Together with Pb at +8/3 they add up to the charge of the compound, 0.

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