1. Identify the Oxidation States:
* Manganese (Mn): We need to figure this out.
* Carbonate (CO3): This has a charge of -2.
2. Apply Charge Balance:
* The overall compound MnCO3 is neutral, meaning the charges must balance.
* Since the carbonate has a -2 charge, the manganese must have a +2 charge to make the molecule neutral.
3. Determine Electron Loss:
* Manganese is in Group 7 of the periodic table, meaning it normally has 7 valence electrons.
* To achieve a +2 charge, it needs to lose 2 electrons.
Therefore, each manganese atom in MnCO3 has lost 2 electrons.
