Chapter 3, Problem 126SAE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The oxidation state of $\text{Mn}$ in ${\text{MgMnO}}_{\text{4}}$ should be assigned.

Concept introduction:

The chemical reaction in which both oxidation and reduction process takes place is known as redox reaction. In this reaction, transfer of electrons takes place among the elements.

Oxidation is the process in which either loss of electrons, oxidation number increases, or loss of hydrogen atoms takes place. An element is oxidized, when oxidation number increases.

Reduction is the process in which either gain of electrons, oxidation number decreases, or gain of hydrogen atoms takes place. An element is reduced, when oxidation number decreases.

Oxidation state is also known as oxidation number. It is defined as the numbers which are assign to the elements in a chemical combination and number represents the electrons which an atom can share, lose or gain to form chemical bonding with an atom of another element.

Therefore, transfer of electrons refers to the oxidation state.