oxidation state

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. the state of an element or ion in a compound with regard to the electrons gained or lost by the element or ion in the reaction that formed the compound, expressed as a positive or negative number indicating the ionic charge of the element or ion.

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oxidation state Scientific  

1. See valence

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Etymology

Origin of oxidation state

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

To stabilize these ceramics, manganese and iron atoms must remain in the 2+ oxidation state, forming what is known as a rock salt structure where each atom bonds with only two oxygen atoms.

From Science Daily

"This is because the iridium resulting from this interaction was in the rare and highly active +6 oxidation state."

From Science Daily

"This is an unusual observation for a molecular system based on manganese in its oxidation state +IV. Even with noble metals emission in this energy region is essentially unprecedented," said Professor Katja Heinze.

From Science Daily

This is independent of the oxidation state or petrological type of the chondrites.

From Nature

The redox flexibility of transition-metal complexes combined with the sensitivity of their geometry to oxidation state presents opportunities for coupling light absorption with multi-electron chemistry.

From Nature