Final answer:
In cadmium hydroxide, Cd has an oxidation number of +2, each O in hydroxide has an oxidation number of -2, and each H in hydroxide has an oxidation number of +1.
Step-by-step explanation:
To assign oxidation numbers to each element in cadmium hydroxide (Cd(OH)2), we follow the standard rules for oxidation states. Hydrogen in hydroxides has an oxidation number of +1, and oxygen in hydroxides has an oxidation number of -2. Because the compound must be electrically neutral, the sum of the oxidation numbers of all atoms must be zero. With two hydroxide ions, each having a net charge of -1 (due to 2 x -2 for oxygen and 2 x +1 for hydrogen), the cadmium ion must have a +2 oxidation state to balance the -2 overall charge from the hydroxides.
Therefore, the oxidation numbers for the elements in cadmium hydroxide are:
- Cadmium (Cd): +2
- Oxygen (O) in hydroxide: -2
- Hydrogen (H) in hydroxide: +1