1. Assign Known Oxidation States
* Potassium (K): Always has an oxidation state of +1.
* Oxygen (O): Usually has an oxidation state of -2 (except in peroxides).
2. Set Up an Equation
Let "x" represent the oxidation state of chromium. Since there are two chromium atoms in the compound, we'll use 2x.
The overall charge of the compound is zero. So, we can write the equation:
2(+1) + 2(x) + 7(-2) = 0
3. Solve for x
* 2 + 2x - 14 = 0
* 2x = 12
* x = +6
Therefore, the oxidation state of chromium in K₂Cr₂O₇ is +6.
