* Hydrogen (H): In most compounds, hydrogen has an oxidation state of +1.
* Chlorine (Cl): In most compounds, chlorine has an oxidation state of -1.
* Nitrogen (N): We can determine the oxidation state of nitrogen by considering the overall charge of the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺). Since there are four hydrogen atoms (+1 each) and the total charge is +1, nitrogen must have an oxidation state of -3.
Therefore, the oxidation states in ammonium chloride are:
* Nitrogen (N): -3
* Hydrogen (H): +1
* Chlorine (Cl): -1
It's important to note that the oxidation state of an entire compound is always zero. This is because the charges of the positive and negative ions balance out.