Ascorbic acid has the molecular formula $C X_{6} H X_{8} O X_{6}$ . Find the average oxidation number of carbon (H is $+ 1$ , O is $- 2$ ). Give two decimal places (include the sign).

Numerical answer type, tolerance 0.005.

Answer: 0.67

Sum over all atoms is zero:

6 x + 8 (+ 1) + 6 (- 2) = 0

gives

6 x = 4

, so

x = 0.667

. Rounded to two decimals:

+ 0.67