Questions: What is the oxidation level in the molecule below? Type in the number: 1,2,3, etc.

Solution Steps

The molecule contains an aldehyde group (\(C=O\)) attached to a benzene ring and a prop-2-ynyl group attached to the benzene ring. There is a bromo group attached to a side chain on the benzene ring.

The aldehyde carbon is bonded to a hydrogen atom, a carbon atom, and an oxygen atom. Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, so the two electrons in the \(C=O\) bond are assigned to the oxygen. The carbon-hydrogen bond electrons are assigned to carbon since carbon is more electronegative than hydrogen. The bond between the aldehyde carbon and the benzene ring has the electrons assigned to the aldehyde carbon. Overall, the aldehyde carbon has an oxidation state of +1.

The other carbon atoms have a lower oxidation state. For example, the carbon atoms in the benzene ring have an oxidation state of 0. The carbons in the alkyl chain have oxidation states of -1 (for carbon 10) and -2 (for carbon 11), since bromine is more electronegative.

Final Answer