Oxidation Numbers and Aluminum Hydride

The video tutorial explains how to determine the oxidation numbers for each element in aluminum hydride (AlH3). It begins by noting that AlH3 is a neutral compound, meaning the sum of its oxidation numbers is zero. The video discusses that hydrogen, when bonded to metals, has an oxidation number of -1. With three hydrogens, the total is -3, requiring aluminum to have an oxidation number of +3 to balance it out. The tutorial concludes by summarizing these findings.

What is the overall charge of aluminum hydride (AlH3)?

• Depends on the environment

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

When hydrogen is bonded to metals, what is its oxidation number?

• +1

• -1

• 0

• +2

What is the oxidation number of hydrogen when bonded to nonmetals?

• +2

• 0

• -1

• +1

How many hydrogen atoms are present in aluminum hydride (AlH3)?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

What is the oxidation number of aluminum in AlH3 to balance the compound?

• +2

• 0

• +3

• +1

What is the total oxidation number of the three hydrogen atoms in AlH3?

• +3

• -3

• 0

• -1