1. Known Oxidation Numbers:
* H: Usually +1, except in metal hydrides where it is -1.
* Al: Can have various oxidation numbers, but in this case, it's most likely +3.
2. Overall Charge:
* NaAlH4 is a neutral compound, so the sum of the oxidation numbers must equal zero.
3. Setting up the Equation:
Let x be the oxidation number of Na. The equation is:
x + (+3) + 4(-1) = 0
4. Solving for x:
x + 3 - 4 = 0
x - 1 = 0
x = +1
Therefore, the oxidation number of Na in NaAlH4 is +1.
