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Oxidation Numbers (1) These are like charge...but not exactly the same thing. Here are the rules: For an element - the oxidation number is 0. For a nonatomic ion - the oxidation number = charge. Nonmetals usually have negative oxidation numbers...but not always. Oxygen--is -1 in peroxides and -2 in other compounds. Hydrogen--is -1 when bonded to metals and +1 when bonded to non-metals. Fluorine is always -1. Other halogens -1 binary compounds and positve when bonded to oxygen. The sum of all oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is 0. The sum of all oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion is the charge on that ion.

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