* Electronegativity: Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon. This means oxygen has a stronger attraction for electrons in a chemical bond.
* Assignment of Oxidation States: In general, we assign oxidation states based on the following rules:
* The oxidation state of an element in its pure elemental form is 0.
* The sum of oxidation states in a neutral molecule is 0.
* The sum of oxidation states in a polyatomic ion equals the charge of the ion.
* Applying the Rules to CO:
* We know the overall charge of CO is 0.
* We assume the oxidation state of oxygen is -2 (as it usually is, except in peroxides).
* To balance the oxidation states and reach a sum of 0, the oxidation state of carbon must be +2.
Therefore, the oxidation state of oxygen in carbon monoxide is -2.
