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Five Rules for Assigning Oxidation States

(5) In their compounds, nonmetals are assigned oxidation states according to this hierarchical table. Entries at the top of the table have priority over entries at the bottom.

Nonmetals in their compounds

Oxidation state

Fluorine

–1

Hydrogen

–1

Oxygen

–2

Group 7A

–1

Group 6A

–2

Group 5A

–3