Final answer:
The oxidation numbers in H₂SO₄ are +1 for hydrogen (+1 × 2 = +2), +6 for sulfur, and -2 for oxygen (-2 × 4 = -8), with the overall charge balancing to zero in the compound.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the oxidation numbers for each element in the compound H₂SO₄, we follow established rules for assigning oxidation states:
- For hydrogen (H), the oxidation number is usually +1.
- Oxygen (O) typically has an oxidation number of -2.
- The sum of oxidation numbers in a neutral compound must be zero.
Following these rules, for each of the two hydrogen atoms (H₂), the oxidation number is +1, giving a total of +2. There are four oxygen atoms in H₂SO₄, each with an oxidation number of -2, totalling -8. To balance the sum to zero, the sulfur (S) atom therefore must have an oxidation number of +6. So, the oxidation numbers in H₂SO₄ are +1 for hydrogen, +6 for sulfur, and -2 for oxygen.